Original subtitles

I'll give up, Mr. Glenn, please.

Shut up.

Please don't hit me. Please.

San Francisco.

Alcatraz was the scene last night of a dramatic escape attempt.

Four desperate prisoners were apprehended on the rocky beach below the

The recently completed Golden Gate Bridge serves as a backdrop.

So near, yet so far from freedom, the surviving escapees Henry Young and Rufus

McCain are escorted back to lockup, while their less fortunate cohorts are

destined for the mall.

The body of Doc Barker, son of the infamous Ma Barker,

cooling on a steel gurney attended by a triumphant guard.

The squad of jubilant correctional officers who foiled the escape

each other and reluctantly show their battle scars.

A proud Warden Thompson, supervisor of three penitentiaries, Folsom, San

Quentin, and Alcatraz, and confidant to J. Edgar Hoover, congratulates his

troops. I uphold the honor of Alcatraz.

Humpson returns to his duties as the inmates are sent through metal

cells are searched, extra guards are called up, and Alcatraz goes on full

to forestall any additional trouble.

As public interest reached a frenzy, Warden Humpson and Associate Warden

left the island in the bay for a press conference, headed for the San Francisco

City Hall.

which was inundated with a veritable plethora of reporters from around the

globe, all gathered to hear the official reaction.

Associate Warden Milton Glenn introduces Warden John Humpson.

Warden Humpson will now make a brief statement, and if you please, no

at the end. Thank you.

I just want to reassure the American people that Alcatraz is an escape -proof

prison. But they have nothing to fear.

The inmates, McCain and Young, will be brought up on escape charges.

There will be time in solitary confinement.

Privileges will be taken away from them.

And the whole rehabilitation process will begin.

Definition of rehabilitate.

To restore to a state of physical, mental and moral health through

training.

Henry Young began his rehabilitation.

I was in my first year of law school at Harvard.

Alcatraz was opened as a federal penitentiary in the spring of 1934.

In the era of the gangster, it was opened more for the publicity value than

incarceration level.

Alcatraz was the most feared prison in the world, and the most expensive.

You see, there were only so many Al Capones and Machine Gun Kellys, so the

prison had empty cells.

In order to justify the costs, the government took incorrigibles from other

prisons. Men that had committed smaller, more petty crimes.

Men like Henry Young.

Prior to 1938, there had

been five escape attempts.

No one had made it. The reputation of Alcatraz as being unescapable was

Six inmates had died.

The ones who didn't die sometimes wished they had.

The federal guideline regarding solitary confinement states that the maximum

stay for an inmate shall not exceed 19 days.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us for our

trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into

temptation but deliver us from evil amen thank you

gentlemen

San Francisco.

There were 276 inmates, 110 guards with their wives and children stationed on

the island.

And the associate warden, Mr. Glenn.

This is the story of Henry Young as I know it.

The series record of a single man in Atlanta.

Hit. He spins.

Every single man in Atlanta.

Scores. He's born to onslaught. It's a ride.

Have you been a good boy?

Yeah. You got his lunchbox?

We'll go with him up.

Good news, Henry.

It's over.

You're out of the hole.

You stink, boy.

All right, come on.

Have a good day.

Come on.

The only other survivor of the escape attempt was Rufus McCain.

He had betrayed his fellow inmates by tipping off the associate warden.

McCain was rewarded and left in the general population.

Henry Young was sent to solitary.

Henry.

Some men are broken.

by the laws that they break, unable to resist the forces

that are pulling them down.

Are the men who have by the rules of the society have sat down?

You're not one of them.

Cameron, I have a job to do here at Alcatraz. Do you know what that is?

To protect you from yourself.

You are among the selected sinners the state set apart so that you could simmer

in scum.

The good people of the United States have decided that you are better off

I had nothing to do with that decision.

But where I play a part in your... life is to make sure that you stay here.

That you rehabilitate yourself.

Become a model prisoner.

A better human being.

That's my job, Henry. You too have a job.

And trying to escape is not one of the duties of your job description.

You can follow me.

In life, Henry, for every action,

There is a definite and distinct reaction.

Action.

Reaction.

Now, if you escape action, I lose my job.

Reaction. I have a family that I will not be able to survive for.

I'm not done yet, Henry.

Knowing this information, Henry, can you tell me why you would possibly want to

escape and jeopardize my family?

I've done nothing to you but my job.

And instead of letting you learn by breaking the rules, I feel I need to

you how to obey them.

Tolerance. Tolerance for pain. My... My tolerance of you.

But tolerance can be mistaken for kindness, and kindness can be mistaken

weakness.

And we can't have weakness, can we, Henry?

I understand.

I'm going to be good. I'm not going to try to run again.

No, you won't.

Good. Good.

Take him to the hall. Clean him up, take him to the hall.

Christmas 1939.

I celebrated visiting with my brother.

Henry Young celebrated in Alcatraz.

In January of 1941, I had passed the bar exam.

Henry Young was in his third year of rehabilitation.

Welcome to Alcatraz, gentlemen. Step off the boat and onto the dock.

Aye, straight ahead at all times.

There was one boat named after Warden Humpson which handled the traffic to and

from Alcatraz.

In the morning and afternoon... It shuttled the schoolchildren to San

for classes.

It was also used to transport prisoners to the island.

Whenever possible, having children and prisoners on the boat at the same time

was avoided.

Don't look at the children.

I'll take the kids into the city, and we'll go shopping.

Honey, can I call you back? The warden's here.

Good morning, warden. Good morning.

When did you arrive on the island?

About 20 minutes ago, Mr. Glenn. Good.

Sit down. Thank you.

Mr. Glenn, we've been going over the rotation figures in the solitary

confinement cells.

Is there something wrong, sir?

Well, I don't know. I don't think this can be right.

What's that?

Well, here, 244.

According to this, he's been in there since March of... I don't believe

been an attitude change with regard to 244, sir. He's not like the other

inmates. That's over three years.

He was the one who masterminded the escape attempt in 38, and there hasn't

an escape attempt since. If you let those animals believe that escape is

possible, you might as well stick in a revolving door.

I think he has learned his lesson.

Come on, Henry.

Henry Young had been rehabilitated.

I was now a public defender in San Francisco.

We would meet in three days.

Eat, Young!

You know the rules.

You don't eat, you go to solitary.

Now get with it!

Two times two is four.

Two times three is six.

Two times four.

Hey, Henry, McCain, he put you in a hole. He put you in a hole.

McCain's still here. Look.

Thank you.

The United States of America versus Henry Young, charged with murder in the

first degree.

Approach the bench.

Charged with murder in the first degree.

Henry Young, Rufus McCain, and their striking and wounding sharp steel

instrument to wit a spoon.

A spoon? A spoon?

This can't be right.

That's right.

If you say so.

To wit, a spoon about four inches in length.

which striking and wounding described as force had caused and said Rufus McCain

thereafter to wit on June 11, 1941, to die.

Trial set one week from Thursday, June 22.

This court stands adjourned.

If you've got more from us, don't be cursing this freak. I'll pick him up and

lay him down.

Yes!

I'm sorry, Cal.

Cal, are you all right?

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Everything okay?

Stop that now. Okay, okay, I'm sorry. If Hankin saw us, he wouldn't think twice

about suspending me or you.

All right. Fix your tie.

Why?

Because you need to look good when you thank Hankin. Thank Hankin? What do I

want to thank Hankin for in the land of Cretan?

He's given you a case.

A case of what, scotch?

Yes, James, a case of scotch.

In an actual case where I stand in front of a jury?

Federal murder one, no less.

Henry Young.

He's a convict who killed another convict in front of 200 witnesses.

Wow. Was it self -defense?

With a spoon.

What was the spoon?

That was the murder weapon. Your client used the spoon to kill the man.

The one works and I was available? Great.

My first case, I can't possibly win.

You do this one for the experience for the next time when maybe your guy didn't

do it.

You could learn a lot. Now, go see your client and make nice to Mr. Hankin on

the way out. I'll see you tonight?

Maybe.

Ah, Mr. Hankin, I want to thank you very much for your confidence in me. I don't

have any confidence in you. The guy is guilty.

A monkey could try the case and not make it any worse than it is.

Okay. Remember that.

Thank you, sir. A monkey.

I guess I'm a monkey.

James Stanfield here to see Henry Young. You can sign it with us.

Nice day, huh?

Yeah, great.

Wait here. Where are you going?

I'm going to the cell. Talk to my client.

What are you, nuts?

I'd like to speak to him face to face.

Well?

I'm trying to find a relief.

You're alive.

Hi.

So then, Mr. Young, is it?

Mr. Young, is that correct?

Mr. Young, that is your name, isn't it? Henry Young?

Why don't I just assume that's your name until you tell me differently? How's

that?

Mr. Young, I will be acting as your defense attorney.

My name is James Stamphill, and anything you tell me will, of course, be

protected under the rules of confidentiality and privileged

of the attorney -client relationship, so you can feel completely free to answer

my questions in a totally honest and forthright fashion.

Now, just for the record, your name is Henry Young, right?

Mr. Young, this isn't an admission of guilt. It's just your name.

You, uh, speak English?

Yeah, you do speak English. It says so right here on the file.

Okay.

Mr. Young, I am your attorney, but I'm not going to be able to provide you with

much of a defense if one of us is catatonic.

You see, we both have to at least be able and willing to answer up when our

is called, you know?

Can you hear?

Mr. Young?

You okay, Mr. Young?

Henry Young was born in Kansas in 1913.

His parents died ten years later, leaving Henry to raise his younger

At the age of 17, Henry went into a local store to try to get a job.

He was refused work.

Out of desperation, he reached into the cash register and took five dollars.

The store also doubled as the town's post office.

Henry was tried and convicted of the federal crime of mail robbery.

Henry's sister was taken to live in an orphanage.

He would never see her again.

Eleven years later, Henry would kill Rufus McCain.

Mr. Young, you went and killed a guy, so you're not catatonic.

So I know that you can talk.

Or at least, I don't know.

Maybe you could write something.

Huh?

You want to write something? Write something right here.

Something.

Look, you want to give it a try?

You want to write?

Mr.

Young, you're looking at me.

You hear me, don't you?

Look, if you don't want to answer my questions, maybe we can start with

something else.

What do you want, Mr. Young?

There has to be something intensive for you to sit there, because if you do,

they're just going to stick you in the gas chamber.

Do you understand that?

See, I have read your file.

I am trying to help you.

That's all I'm trying to do.

I just want to help you.

Maybe there are extenuating circumstances in your case.

Getting sentenced to 11 worth for stealing $500, that's extenuating, you

isn't it?

But you have to get him on your side here. Five dollars.

What, Mr. Young?

It was five dollars, not five.

Bingo. I knew you had it in you. Now, come on, Mr. Young. Why did you kill

McCain?

Come on, come on. You just talked. Don't do this again.

Come on. No, no. Don't quit now. Come on. You just talked.

Why did you kill McCain?

What do you think?

How? How?

How? You saying how?

How?

How?

How? How?

How? What?

What are you, a fucking Indian? Come on, Mr. Young, don't quit now. How what?

How is?

How is?

How is? What, you want to know who somebody is? I'll find out immediately.

How is?

Who? Who? How?

DiMaggio.

DiMaggio. How is DiMaggio?

Is he a prisoner over in Alcatraz?

Dimaggio doing this year?

Dimaggio, the baseball player?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

How is Joe Dimaggio, the baseball player, doing this year? That's what

asking me. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Mr. Young, I... I don't really follow baseball.

Excuse me, Mr. McNeil. I'm James Stamp. Yes.

Counsel for Henry Young.

Yes. I was wondering if I could talk to you, sir, about continuance.

No. You don't understand, sir. He just sits there. I can't even get him to

speak. Well, maybe he's practicing for the gas chamber. Tell him to take deep

breaths.

Seriously, you want him to consider joint motion in the interest of justice?

Are you old enough to be a lawyer?

Yes, sir, I am. No joint motion for a continuance?

No psychiatrist, and trust me, pal, no plea bargain.

Your boy's gonna suck the pipe. Look, I don't know who you pissed off to get

this piece of shit case, and I don't care. No breaks.

Mr.

Young, DiMaggio is having a great year.

Last year, he was the American League batting champ with the .352 average,

was just a little bit off the year before when he had a .381 average.

Now, the Yankees, they too had a good year.

New York defeat Chicago, 4 -0, led by Jolton Joe DiMaggio hitting .400.

.400, that's pretty good, isn't it?

June 17, 1941.

Our friend DiMaggio hit safely in 32 straight games.

12 more and you will tie the all -time record held by Lee Willie Keeler, who

the mark in 1897 for the Baltimore Orioles.

Joe Lewis emerges the victor in what some consider to be the toughest win of

career.

Here we go. I have some entertainment news.

Betty Grable.

See?

It says here she, uh... She's been...

What? How old are you?

Me? I'm 24.

I think I am, too.

No, you're... You're 28.

You'd like me to keep reading to you?

Henry?

This ought to make you a little bit more comfortable.

First, Your Honor, the defense requests a new jury. Having been eliminated from

this process, I don't see how this fairs. Three new members, and that's it.

Next.

Your Honor, the defense respectfully requests a continuance of 60 days so

may confer with my client about the case. Your Honor, he doesn't need 60

The facts in this case are so clear, I should think six minutes is possible.

Your Honor, my client has been almost catatonic since I met him. Yesterday was

the first day I even got him... It wasn't so catatonic that he couldn't

over and slit a guy's throat in front of 200 witnesses.

Mr. Stamphill, is it your contention that the defendant is insane? Is that

you mean by catatonic?

Approach the bench, Counselor.

Is this laying the groundwork for a not guilty by reason of insanity plea?

I don't know yet, Your Honor. I haven't even spoken to him about the case the

first time... One week, Counselor.

Then you will either come in here and tell me that you are ready to come to

trial or you will come in here with a request for a competency hearing.

One week.

This court is in ruthless.

If you're young, you and me, we've got to talk now.

Would you like a cigarette?

No, thanks.

That shit'll kill you.

That's kind of funny.

That shit'll kill you.

Because I'm going to die in that gas chamber anyway, so that's kind of a

huh? What's this about Nazis? We at war?

No, not yet, Mr. Union.

It's brand new.

What? Mr.

Glenn told me.

Glenn, the associate warden? He said it's brand new. He said they do.

Said they're going to try it out on me.

Henry, we only have a week.

You've got to talk to me, okay?

Why did you kill Rufus McCain?

Henry, why did you kill Rufus McCain?

How?

How could you not know about baseball?

You said.

Why did you kill Rufus McCain, Henry? I don't know. It must have been maybe a

year, maybe more. I don't know.

All I did was hear him in my head.

Well, what are you talking about? Are you talking about McCain?

What are you talking about? I'm talking about baseball.

I'm talking about the great American pastime.

I went over every game I ever heard on the radio.

I went over every game I ever heard, just playing them over and over in my

You had all those games to go to.

You didn't even care.

Henry, I'm talking about Rufus. That's what I'm talking about. Three fucking

years they had me in that bucket.

Three fucking years.

That ain't fucking light even. You had all those games to listen to.

You don't even know what the macho hit this year.

Why don't you understand? Do you know the average length of time an inmate

spend in solitary?

19 days.

19 days. I understand 19 days. Henry Young did more than three years. Three

years in total darkness. A black hole. James, that's tragic, but he took a

Your brother's going to tell you exactly what I've told you. You're not going to

get him off. My brother is the best lawyer I know. It's going to take

that good to tell me if we've got a chance of some kind of insanity or

diminished capacity, please. Your brother's not going to give a damn.

Your client is a two -time loser.

This Kate is much more about you than him. He had no future.

This is your first time in the spotlight. It's what you worked for.

This case is a lost cause, and so you must handle it like a lost cause.

Maybe you're right, but the guy's not exactly Al Capone, you know. No, no, he

isn't.

All they had him on was income tax evasion. Your boy.

How are you?

Hi, Henry.

You're not mad at me, are you, for blowing up at you yesterday? Because,

know, nobody talks back. I'm mad at you. No, no, I'm not mad at you. And I'll

get the hang of it, you know. I got a sense of humor.

And you and me, we're going to have some good times. You know how to play cards?

Could you get some cards?

Look, look, look, look, look. I set this up for you. Here, sit down.

Henry. How much like that in the cell you spent three years in? Like when you

offered me that cigarette? Henry, I want to get that straight, all right? I

don't think that shit will kill you. That was pretty good, huh? Henry, you

to help me if I'm going to defend you now, okay?

Yeah. Sure, sure.

Here, look.

Did you kill this man here, Rufus McCain?

I must have.

I'm here.

I don't remember it, but everybody saw me, so yeah, sure, sure.

But you don't remember it? No, no, but so what?

Would you want to kill Luke? You know what?

Once, once there was a spider that crawled over me. You know, it was like

company, you know, and I looked for him again, but I couldn't find him because

he had a way out. McCain was a snitch, right? He was the reason he landed in

bus. 142 times 93. Go ahead, ask me that one. Henry, how long after he came out

of the hole? 13 ,206.

13 ,000. You mean days?

What are you talking about?

That's the answer, 142 times 93.

Go ahead, figure it out. Henry, I need you to concentrate on what I'm saying. I

know what you're saying. How long was it? I don't know, okay?

I don't remember. Hey.

Hey. What's this new girl? I've seen it in the papers. It's a good girl.

Oh, man. She's a good girl. You see any movies?

Henry, God damn it. I want you to think. You want to think?

I spent three goddamn years in the dark.

Smelling my own shit.

Pissed. Doing nothing but thinking.

I hate thinking.

I... I'm

sorry, Henry.

I'm just trying to help you.

Hey, you got a girl, right?

Yeah. Take your jacket off.

What? Let me smell it.

You were easier to understand when you were catatonic.

What's he like?

Who? Your girl, that perfume on your jacket. Let me smell your jacket.

Look, I'll make you a deal. I'll give you my jacket, my pants, whatever you

want. Sports, girls, whatever. But you gotta tell me just one memory about

something I ask.

Deal?

Sure. I've never been with a girl, you know.

Let me try it on.

How long was it that you went without any daylight?

Did they ever let you out for any exercise?

Merry Christmas, Henry. Don't hit me. Don't hit me. Get the tear gas.

How long have I been in here?

You're out of the hole.

I made it. I did it. It's Christmas, 1940.

You've been down there two years.

Two years.

I did it.

Two fucking years.

I made it.

I made it.

I'm not too crazy, am I?

I did it. It's over.

Hey, nothing's over, Henry.

30 minutes exercise, that's all you get.

No!

No!

No!

You don't want it, we take you back.

No, no!

I want it! I want it.

I'll... I'll be good.

I'll... I'll...

Ladies

and gentlemen of the jury.

The defendant, Henry Young, is accused of murder in the first degree.

It is your responsibility as a juror to deal with truth.

Rufus McCain was murdered by Henry Young.

Mr. Stamphill, public defender, will play upon your sympathies. He will use

every trick in the book. Why?

To avoid the gas chamber.

The United States of America will demand... You return a verdict of guilty

that this animal will receive the punishment commanded by the Bible.

An eye for an eye.

A life for a life. For if ever there was a man guilty of murder, it is

Henry Young.

And if ever a man deserved to die for that crime, it is the accused.

Thank you very much, Mr. McNeil.

Mr. Stamphill, are you prepared to make your opening statement at this time?

Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, when I was a kid, my heroes

weren't Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig.

They were Clarence Darrow, Emile Zola. In other words, I've waited for this

moment all of my life. I stand like I am right now in front of a jury of 12 good

people. Plead the case of an innocent man who's been unjustly accused.

The only problem is, he did it.

I know it.

Prosecutor Mr. McNeil knows it.

Henry Young doesn't know it exactly because he can't remember it, but he

deny that he did it.

All those witnesses the prosecutor's going to bring forth will tell you so.

Henry Young killed Rufus McCain.

So, now that we all know that, why don't we find the man guilty as charged, send

him to San Quentin, and gas him, because that's what we all know is going to

happen anyway. Right, Henry?

There's only one problem that's going to keep us from wrapping this thing up in

record time.

Henry Young did not act alone.

They haven't caught all the killers.

You see, there was a co -conspirator, and it is because of this co

whom we shall name in this courtroom, that Henry Young is innocent of the

of murder. What?

Objection, Your Honor. I must protest. I kind of figured you would. Your Honor,

this is absurd.

Before the counselor is allowed to waste this court time and this jury's time, I

would request... Did he supply some proof or evidence of this co

Mr. Stamphill, can you bring forward evidence of the existence of the co

-conspirator? Not at this time, Your Honor, but it is my intention to provide

such proof during the course of the trial. He's not going to provide such

because no proof exists. This man spent three years in solitary confinement,

during which time no one had any influence over him because no one had

contact with him.

He came out of solitary. He went directly to a shower. Then he went

a haircut.

And then he went directly to the dining hall, where one convict had said one

sentence to him. Your Honor, this does not a co -conspirator make.

I'm inclined to agree with the prosecution, young man.

Unless you can justify that line of defense, I will sustain the

objection. Your Honor, the district attorney, with his own words, has just

my case for me.

That'll be the day.

Your Honor.

For three years, three long, torturous years, no one and nothing had any

influence whatsoever over Henry Young.

No one and nothing.

This was a man whose only crime was to steal $5 from a local post office so he

could feed his starving sister.

So he came to Alcatraz, a petty criminal who had never harmed or attempted to

harm another human being in his entire life.

And he came out of the dungeon a vicious, barbaric, maniacal murderer.

A man who had been put into a kind of psychological coma.

Within an hour of coming out of that hellhole, he did what would have been

unthinkable to him only three years before.

Unthinkable. His only thought was murder.

His only instinct was murder. His first act was murder.

Now, he himself was a murder weapon, but the hand that held that weapon and

plunged it into the throat of Rufus McCain belonged to someone else.

I point to the associate warden, Mr. Glenn, the warden, Mr. Humpson, and the

institution known as Alcatraz and say, I accuse.

Objection. I accuse them individually and collectively.

I choose Alcatraz of the torture of Henry Young. I choose Alcatraz of the

of the orderly. I choose Alcatraz of the murder of the orderly. Henry

Young is not going to be the only defendant here.

I don't know.

Alcatraz is on trial. I will address your objection tomorrow morning.

Henry Young, on trial for his life, is seen leaving the San Francisco

courthouse, followed by his young and now very popular public defender, James

Tamphill. Stanfield has accused the infamous rock of torture, using the

crimes against humanity.

Stanfield has turned the once quiet trial of a convict killing into a media

circus. In most cases, they do get better.

And in the case of Henry Young, this happens not to be true.

Young is a noisemaker.

Some prisoners have a problem when they're in solitary.

All we do is try to discourage misconduct.

This is the first verbal attack on the jewel of the prison system. This bastion

that houses evil opened in 1934.

It brought gangsters like Capone, Machine Gun Kelly, and Henry Young close

the magical City by the Bay, less than one half mile from world famous

Fisherman's Wharf.

We went to the streets to find out public opinion. It's ridiculous you

a place on trial. It's a prison. It's for prisoners.

Now the murderers are accusing the wardens of this and that. It doesn't

whole lot of sense.

Warden Humpton seems like a good guy. I like him. If that place wasn't here, I

probably wouldn't live here. So you think it's too close to your dues?

I think it's perfect.

I reckon he's innocent until he's proven guilty, and he'll get a fair trial.

Well, nonetheless, he's a murderer. This grisly evidence bears mute witness to

the brutal crime perpetrated by Henry Young.

Note the spoon.

Can a prison be put on trial? Judge Clausen's ruling tomorrow may clear the

to put Alcatraz on trial.

The warden can't be relied upon to carry out the instructions of the Bureau that

no brutality...

or inhumanity shall be practiced.

Sustained food and medical attention shall be given, and we have

followed those instructions.

Thank you.

So many opinions being expressed, we attempted to get a statement from the

recent graduate of Harvard Law School assigned to defend Henry Young.

Why don't we just keep the trial in the courtroom?

Thank you very much.

I would like to address a few words to the counsel for the defense.

Mr. Stamphill, you are hereby put on notice that this court has no interest

newspaper headlines and will not be swayed by them.

And I further admonish that counsel's attempts to try this case in the press

not before this court will put him in the utmost peril.

Is that clear, Mr. Stamphill?

Yes, Your Honor.

Well, good.

Bailiff, approach the bench.

Before I hand down my ruling on Mr. McNeil's objection, I would like to

a few words to the counsel for the defense.

While I cannot give legal advice and sit on the bench at the same time, I will

express grave concern with the defense's strategy.

Counselor, I strongly recommend you walk a straight line in terms of your

defense. Anything you state in this courtroom will be evaluated not only by

jury... but very closely scrutinized by myself.

Is that understood, Mr. Stamphill?

Yes, Your Honor.

Very well.

Prosecution's objection is overruled.

Mr. Stamphill, you may pursue your line of defense concerning the federal

penitentiary at Alcatraz, and I will rule on any objections on a point -by

-point basis.

Exception. Noted. Mr. McNeil, you may call your first witness.

Prosecution called Terrence Winson.

Court calls Terrence Swenson.

The witness shall remain standing until sworn in.

Put your hand in the Bible.

Cut it out.

You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in the

matter now pending before this court. So help you God.

So help me God.

You may be seated.

Mr. Swenson.

As a guard at Alcatraz, did you know Henry Young?

Yes, sir. Did you point him out for us, Mr. Swenson?

It came right over there, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Whitney.

Thank you.

Now, on the morning of June 11th, 1941, where were you?

I was on duty in the dining hall.

And everything was normal.

And I saw the defendant.

Henry Young?

That's correct.

I saw him standing over Rufus McCain.

He lifted up his chin and... Excuse me, I'm a little nervous. That's all right,

you're doing fine. And he plunged a metal object, which I later learned was

spoon, into McCain's throat.

He then ripped it open.

Did the defendant ever appear to be ranting or raving?

No, sir.

Mr. McCain, was he frothing at the mouth?

No, sir.

Did he in any way give the impression of one who was insane?

Objection. This man is not a qualified psychiatrist as far as I know.

Sustained. So it appeared to you that it was a cool, calculated and deliberate

act? Objection.

Overruled. The witness may answer the question.

Yes, sir. Young did it just as cool as a cucumber.

Thank you.

No further questions.

This court will reconvene after the holiday.

9 a .m. July 5th.

All rise.

You should have played cards with me.

Alcatraz was built by the military during the Civil War.

In May of 33, the War Department abandoned the island.

It was leveled all except for the lower floor, which is now used for storage.

Now to myself, I have to get access to the lower level because that's where the

dungeons have got to be located.

The only guard on record to be fired or dismissed during Henry's solitary time

was Derek Simpson.

Locate Simpson.

The prison opened in June of 34 under Warden Humpson.

He insisted on a high level of guards to prisoners.

Glenn was the first to point D.

Mr. Hank, it's... Two things.

First of all, you worked for me. I was just on my way out. Let me finish!

As I was saying, you work for me, which means when I call you, you drop

everything. You return my call or you will cease to work for me. Yes, sir, but

you can see I'm... I don't care if you're holed up with Rita Hayworth.

Understand?

Yes, sir.

Good.

Now, what the hell do you think you're doing with this trial?

I'm trying to defend my client. Then why don't you defend him, for Christ's

sake? Try to knock down the charges or say it was a crime of passion or figure

out how you're going to cross -examine McNeil's witnesses instead of all this

psychological coma crap that doesn't mean anything in the court of law. Sir,

think it does. As long as this is my case, I think that's the way I should

handle it. Fair enough, fair enough. I tried to talk reasonably to you, but

you're not going for it, so you're not handling this case anymore.

Done.

Mr. Hankin, they're printing my opening statement in over 250 newspapers across

the country now.

If you want to take me off of this case because you're afraid of taking on

Alcatraz, that's your choice.

But I'm just going to go to Jerry Houlan and tell my side of the story.

If you want to play hardball, sir, I'll play hardball, too.

I'm trying to be your friend, James.

Do you know who the warden of Alcatraz is? He is the most highly respected

warden in this country dealing with the world's hardest criminals.

If you try to make Humpson look like a Nazi, they will eat you for breakfast.

Henry, you are the one that is going to die if I can't get some corroboration

about what goes on over there. I need names.

Names of men who will come and testify.

What makes you think these men are going to come and testify?

Maybe you've got some friends you don't know about.

And you won't play cards.

Henry, I can get a court order. I'll make them testify. I hear what your

order gonna do for them when they're back on the rock. Mr. Glenn is gonna

them, that's what.

I understand you. This is the only chance we've got. We're talking about

life. Oh, Jim, poor smart guy. You're awful slow. I'm already dead. I told you

that. You know, you can't change Alcatraz. It just is.

So why fight it? I mean, I see you standing up there in court and you're

preaching. I don't even know what you're talking about.

Justice.

I'm talking about justice.

Jim, I killed him.

They saw it. They're going to kill me. Nothing you can say is going to make any

difference, so I don't see what you've got to get so excited about.

It's trouble. It doesn't interest you at all. You don't care about it in the

slightest. Well, you know, you look like you're having a good time, so, I mean,

no, I don't care. The main thing is I've got a friend, my age, to talk to until

they gas me.

I'm not your friend, Henry. I'm your attorney. I'm trying to save your life.

Guard! You know, I had a sister, but I...

I ain't seen her since they put me in jail the first time. I got nothing.

I got nobody.

I don't need a lawyer. I need a friend.

And all this stuff you're doing so you can prove something to some guy named

or something. You're not doing it for me. Hey, hey, you want to do something

me?

Let's play cards.

You go ahead and play cards, Henry. I got a case to try.

Yo, old Jim. Jim, Jim, wait, wait, where you going?

Where you going? Hey!

I'm Henry Young's attorney. I'd like to ask you a few questions.

Mr. Barkdoll, I'm going to call prisoners to the stand who will come and

about life on Alcatraz. I want to know where the dungeons are, what solitary

time in those dungeons is like. I want the jury to know and understand.

Tell him to get caught robbing a bank.

He'll find out.

I'm done talking.

Mr. Murphy, if we can get decent treatment for you, it makes decent

possible for everyone.

If we ignore cruelty in one place, it makes it more acceptable everywhere.

I ain't gonna do shit for you.

You can't get me no good time knocked off.

You can't get me no privileges.

You can't even get me second to dessert.

I testify for anybody I testify for the DA.

He's got some juice here.

Mr. Baker, could you tell me anything about Henry Young?

Don't know Henry Young.

Could you tell us anything about Mr.

Glenn?

Glenn has always been good to me.

Have you ever been in the dungeons?

Ma 'am, I don't know nothing about no dungeons.

That's all, ma 'am.

I gotta go now.

Did Mr. Glenn tell you not to cooperate with me?

Fuck you.

Mr. Groves, where are the dungeons located?

Don't take my fucking picture!

Do you know that I can get rid of habeas corpus testificandum that can force you

to come and testify in a court of law?

Fuck you!

Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Groves.

Don't mention it.

Oh.

And you, sweetheart, I'd like to fuck you.

Well, I hope your day has been fruitful.

I don't see your photography.

Is he still taking pictures? He's trying to.

Mr. Glenn, we're not receiving a great deal of cooperation.

It almost seems as though someone spoke to the prisoners and told them not to

talk to us. No, there's no conspiracy.

No one talked to them. Maybe it's because they are dangerous people who

here and they have no interest in you or your case. I would like to see the

dungeons. I'm sorry, dungeons?

The old citadel, the sub -level of the prison.

Well, it's mostly storage, a few...

Solitary cells. No dungeon. I would like to see the solitary confinement cells.

I would love to show those cells to you, but I can't. They're an insurance risk

to visitors in case of a riot. If you're there, we won't be able to protect you.

Thank you for your concern.

I could show you the exercise yard now.

Oh, you have papers.

Yes, I have papers so you can cut the good guy act.

Mr. Stamphill.

The fact is, I do consider myself as one of the good guys, and perhaps more than

you. I know what the bad guys are like.

No, no, no, I'd like to read them.

Please.

Thank you.

That is a court order instructing you to permit us access to the solitary

confinement cells, and to allow the photographer, Mr. Kelly, to take

the same, to be used as exhibits in the trial of the pupil versus young.

You were also instructed to hand over to us the complete medical and

disciplinary file, Mr. Barron.

If you refuse to do so, you will have to appear in court and show just cause.

Officer, why don't you take a pass upstairs for some air?

I was instructed not to leave you alone.

I don't care what you're instructed to do. You may be used to these conditions,

but obviously she's not.

Come on, we've already been searched. Why don't you take her outside? Or else

can go right to the gun and discuss the matter with her.

All right, all right.

No more photos.

You all right?

Thanks, buddy.

I just need some air.

I'm Henry Young's attorney.

I can force them to let you out of here so you can come testify in San Francisco

in a court of law.

You just have to give me your name. I promise I will do what I said for you.

Hey, James, she's okay. Just needed some air.

You going out?

Feeling any better?

I guess I'll make it.

Did you get anything?

I got three names.

Let's go.

Where did Stamp Hill get the three names on this list?

No, Mr. Hankins.

What, you think you could trust these cons?

You know, they're smart enough to look after their own interests. They called

Glenn that your boy James said that he could get him out of solitary as long as

they were willing to testify for the defense and lie on the stand. That's a

All he wanted to do was find one conduit willing to... Jesus, Mary, Mary, this

is goddamn bribery. It's prejudicing a witness.

Conduct that could get you disbarred. It's gone too far.

Fire him, and I don't care how you do it.

Why can't you just take it off? Because Henry Young is my client. I'm a lawyer.

It's my job to defend you. Not anymore.

What? He's already been notified that Hankin wants you off of him.

Henry will never go for it. He went for it. I've been assigned another attorney.

Who?

Me.

Me. Hankin assigned me to the case. He said I could take it or be fired. I

didn't have any choice.

You have a choice but to stab me in the back? I'm not stabbing you.

What could I have done, James? You tell me.

established exactly in the cross... You know, we have a lot of work to get

through today, if you don't mind.

Stop that, Mr. Young.

Jesus Christ, all I was doing was looking.

Mr. Young, I want to set you straight about the way that I... Oh, yeah, you

me straight the minute she walked in here.

Mr. Young? Please, call me Henry. Please.

Mr. Young, I am not here to satisfy any sexual fantasies that you may have.

You're not?

No, I'm your attorney.

Oh, yeah, well, well, but they're going to kill me anyway, so you're not going

to do me any good as an attorney. You might as well be good for something.

Mr. Young, I can't... Please, please, please, call me Henry, won't you?

I just want to hear a lady.

Call me Henry, can't you? Please, please.

Just one.

Please.

Henry, listen, we have... Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Sure, it's not going to hurt me to let me touch you.

Don't make me call the guard. We're running late on the... Stop that.

Stop. Stop that.

Stop that!

I'm not touching you. You're touching me.

Guard!

You want me to know if he does?

No, I'd like to leave now.

He wants to see you in there.

What?

He wants to see you in there.

So why'd you want to meet here?

Neutral territory?

So you want to be my lawyer again?

Well, what happened to the other one?

I don't know if I want her.

Since I had her, I mean.

She was good, though. She was everything I wanted my first experience to be, you

know. I was just talking and she came over and started touching me right on

my... That's great, Henry.

Jim, I just played a joke on you.

I know she was your girlfriend.

I remember from the smell of your perfume on your jacket.

The lawyer.

You want to come back?

I resigned.

So I guess that means I'm in private practice. Uh -huh.

I could have had her, though.

Of course.

She don't play guard.

After I got arrested, they took my little sister away.

They put her in a home or...

Never saw her again.

My parents died when I was seven.

It was just me and my brother, and he didn't know anything about raising a

child, so he sent me off to boarding school.

I did get to come home on holidays.

Then he put me through law school. Then he got me the job at the public

defender's office.

He always wanted me to do well.

We had a plan until you came along and messed everything up, Henry.

I wish I'd have been able to take care of my little sister, you know?

I mean, family's family, right?

Henry, I'm sorry you're here.

Hey, this here is paradise compared to my last home.

So how about the case? You want to talk about that a little bit now?

You never give up, do you?

What about the Redskins? How do you think they're going to do against the

Yankees this year?

Tim, the Redskins are a football team.

The Yankees are a baseball team.

Personally, I think the Redskins kicked the shit out of them.

And I am trying.

I know.

Now, this is going to be a private conversation, Byron.

It never took place, all right?

Sorry, was he a Thurgood?

I don't know what he suggested it like.

Brother here is making quite a little name for himself.

We've even heard his name in Washington.

My brother's resigned from the case. Why, Mr. Starr? Well, he was hired back

again last night. What do you mean, was hired back again?

Byron.

Since you made partner, your work here has been stellar.

I would hate to see anything... What exactly are you trying to say? This

administration is not going to allow public attention to be diverted from all

the good that it's done.

by some kind of witch hunt in the Justice Department.

Now, I'm just telling you what the score is, Byron.

It's up to you to take care of him.

Why would J. Edgar Hoover care about what happens to Henry Young? Oh, grow

James. He doesn't care about what happens to Henry. He cares about

Justice Department, Thompson, the administration.

He can't have some kid from the PD's office... I'm not a public defender

anymore.

Don't play games, you know the point.

Yeah, the point is I'm trying to do what's right. I'm talking about justice

here. You're disgusted about what happened on Alcatraz. Who am I?

But if you tear the whole system down, what does that say about America?

We're wrong.

We can't be wrong.

The world is fighting right now to preserve our system. A way of life.

You can't attack it blindly.

Byron, we're talking about one man here. It's not that big of a deal.

You're under surveillance.

What?

Everyone is watching you. Tell me how you plan to continue.

You have to realize, no one will talk.

Everyone has been gotten to.

I have somebody.

Who?

I can't tell you.

So now you don't trust me?

Byron, you're my brother. I love you.

I need your help.

I... I can't do it, Byron. I'm sorry, but I can't.

James, as a consolation, please don't put Humpson on the stand.

Why?

Humpson was handpicked by Hoover. It would save a lot of embarrassment if you

were to avoid Humpson.

I'll think about it.

I'm sorry, Bob.

Yeah, yeah, this is James Staple.

This is Derek Simpson.

Remember we talked before?

Right, right, of course, of course I remember.

Have you made your decision?

I've been thinking about what we were talking about, and I'd like to be a

witness.

Wonderful. Now, you do understand that you'll have to testify in court under

oath about the brutality you witnessed at Alcatraz?

Yes, I know that.

Particularly in reference to Henry Young.

Mr. Simpson, do you hold any sort of grudge against Warden Humpson or

Warden Glenn?

No.

Okay, why don't I just come over and we can speak in person?

Yes.

I'm in Chinatown.

It's an alley called Scotland Court.

The number there is 964.

Simpson, are you in here?

You all right?

You all

right?

Mr. Simpson, you still want to be a witness?

She's a court reporter.

What happened to your face?

My face? I had a little accident this morning.

Listen, Henry, we need to get one more deposition.

Nope. Regarding the beatings you received.

Your eye, your leg, everything.

Henry. I mean, you told me you'd never been with a woman before.

Henry, this is Blanche.

Blanche, this is Henry.

Nice to meet you, Henry.

Now, you guys only got about four minutes before the next car arrives for

shift, so you gotta hurry up. Now, I can't leave the room. I'm just gonna be

over here in this corner.

We can get acquainted.

Come on, honey. We don't have all night.

Thanks, Jim.

You're a good friend.

Oh, boy.

Hi, Carolyn.

Sweetie, you have to get it up first. It's like trying to stick an oyster into

slot machine.

Give me that.

Sorry. Sorry.

Except for the five bucks you owe me. For what?

What, you didn't listen?

The loose knocks no rat in the six round.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give me the money.

I can't. Yeah, you can.

I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't. I can't.

Adios, Charlie.

Oh, you know what?

It's gonna cost extra, you know.

Just do what you have to do.

You had a few minutes.

You got another guy in the room. It's okay.

Shh.

Oh, shh, baby.

Shh.

Your Honor, the defense calls Associate Warden Mr. Milton Glenn.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God? So help me God. You may be seated.

As associate warden, you are responsible for the day -to -day running of the

prison, are you not?

You could say that.

And you must be familiar with the dungeons, correct?

Dungeons? I'm sure you've heard of them.

Some prisoners refer to the lower levels as dungeons.

They refer to bread and water as piss and punk.

Mr. Glenn, the dictionary definition of a dungeon is a close, dark prison or

vault, commonly underground.

Now, the walls of those cells measure six feet by nine, and the roof is five

six feet tall. Would you call that close? As a matter of opinion, no.

Are there any light fixtures in those rooms? No, but there aren't any books

either. Your Honor,

defense offers these photographs as defense exhibit B, C, D, E, and F.

Now, how much light comes into these lower cells with no window when the door

closed? Not much. How long was Henry Young held in such a cell?

I don't know exactly.

Three years and two months. I have the records you'd approve if you'd like to

see. That sounds right. Three years and two months. Now, in that time, how often

was Henry Young allowed outside for exercise? Mr. Stample, I do not believe

the exercise time of an inmate is relevant.

Oh, I do. Answer the question.

Objection. Objection overruled. Henry Young tried to escape.

Now, when a criminal escapes from prison, he doesn't write up a resume and

job hunting. He robs somebody or kills somebody. We do all we can to discourage

escape. Mr. Glenn, in three years and two months, how often was Henry Young

allowed outside for a little exercise? I do not believe that men... Answer the

question I'm asking. How often was he allowed outside for exercise?

Objection. He's badgering the witness. Objection overruled. Mr.

Glenn, you will answer that question.

Young man, I do not recall...

You don't know? Surely a half hour a year isn't too difficult to recall now,

it? Is it? Mr. Stample, there's no place in my courtroom for sarcasm, Your

Honor. Mr. Glenn, I have here a list with 32 names on it. Now, these are all

names of men who were prisoners to Alcatraz during your tenure there, is

correct? Well, I can't remember the name of every prisoner. I have committal

papers with your signature as well as the late Dr. Wendell Kiley.

We'd like this to be marked Defense Exhibit G. Now, all of these men were

off Alcatraz in straight jackets and placed in mental institutions, is that

correct? Objection, Your Honor. The question is immaterial.

Immaterial? Your Honor, I'm saying in lay terms that Alcatraz drives people

insane. That it has already done so in 32 instances. Now, if this is not true,

the witness ought to have the opportunity to say so. If it is true, it

material, and the jury ought to be privy to that knowledge. Don't you think?

Objection overruled. Thank you.

Now, is it not true...

that these men were taken off Alcatraz in straitjackets and placed in mental

institutions, and you and Dr. Wendell Kiley signed the committal and transfer

papers. True. Is it not also true that of these 32 men, 28 of them had never

before set foot inside a mental institution? I don't know. I have their

if you'd like to see them. Well, I'll take your word for it. Okay, here are

who came to Alcatraz legally sane, were subjected to the conditions of Alcatraz,

and then deemed to be insane.

Is that correct?

Yes, but you...

You can't say that one causes the other.

Insanity's not a virus, is it? It's not something we're all going to catch now,

is it?

Objection, Your Honor. The witness is not a psychiatrist.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Stamphill, you will confine your questions to areas of Mr. Glenn's

expertise. Very well, Mr. Glenn's expertise. Mr. Glenn, have you ever

prisoner? No, that would be illegal.

Not even when provoked? No.

You've never hit, kicked, used a blackjack or straight razor? You've

punched a prisoner in your entire career?

Objection, Your Honor.

Sustained. Confine yourself to one question at a time. Is it not true that

ordered two guards to throw Henry Young down a steel flight of stairs, that you

smashed his face with a blackjack, that you took a straight razor, sliced open

his ankle, hobbling that man for life? That's the truth, isn't it?

Answer the question. Objection, Your Honor. The witness has already

He's testified to a lot of things, Your Honor. Mr. Glenn, are you aware that in

a federal court system, perjury is a crime? Henry Young is the one...

be treated the same way as this... this lying, murdering, two -time loser!

Silence, Mr. Glenn!

Mr. Stamphill! You are perilously close to contempt of this court!

You will proceed with caution. Is that understood?

I'm pretending.

Well, would you care to withdraw any of your previous testimony? You wouldn't

want somebody to come along and testify the contrary now, would you?

No. I would not withdraw any testimony.

No matter what Henry Young has told you. I'm not talking about Henry Young.

I wouldn't leave him.

Mr. Simpson, did you ever beat this man, Henry Young?

Objection, Your Honor. This has no bearing. No bearing? Your Honor,

have a bearing on a man's state of mind. Three years of darkness has a bearing

on a man's state of mind. Do we need to be psychologists to know that? You know

that, Your Honor. I know you do.

Objection overruled. Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Simpson, did you ever beat Henry Young with a blackjack?

Yes. Did you ever throw Henry Young down a steel flight of stairs?

Yes, I did.

You were ordered to do this?

Yes, sir. And you will tell us the name of the man who was your superior who

ordered you to do these things.

Mr. Glenn.

Mr. Glenn. And you never went to Warden Humpson about these matters? No, sir.

Thank you very much. I won't ask you where you got your bruises. I already

Your witness.

Your Honor, the prosecution would like to mark for identification the

records of Mr. Derek Simpson.

Do you recall Mr. Simpson being suspended on November 4th, 1936 and

July 6th, 1937?

Yes. Speak up, Mr. Simpson.

Yes. Is it not a fact that you were fired from your job as a guard because

are a drunk?

Objection. Objection.

Objection. And that Mr. Glenn would not tolerate this in a federal prison. No.

Isn't it true, Mr. Simpson, that having cost you your job, you would say just

about anything to get even with Mr. Glenn?

The jury will disregard Mr.

Simpson's testimony.

You know exactly what happened. You set me up. What are you talking about? You

set me up. You took Simpson's picture off of my desk.

They never would have known to tear Simpson down if you hadn't have told

Are you going to hit me now, James?

Go ahead.

It's about time you grew up and were a man.

You're my brother.

You had me beaten up.

James, that was not supposed to happen.

Only, Simpson, you walked in with bad timing. Bad timing?

I'm putting Humson on the stand.

Why? James Humson doesn't know anything!

A man runs three prisons. He has to know something, unless he's never there.

Son of a bitch.

He... he was never there.

Never there. You never saw him? You never shook his hand? No, you, you, you.

You'd hear about him visiting, but I never saw him.

Now, your old brother did that to you. Your brother did that to you. Yeah.

Jesus, rich people are weird.

Hey, hey.

You hear DiMaggio broke Keeler's record, 45 straight games.

Wouldn't it be great if he never stopped?

Doc records would show when he was there, Henry. Every trip to Alcatraz is

recorded. I had to sign them myself.

Hey, Jim.

What? We're friends, huh?

Yeah, sure.

Is it over? I mean, you know, is that all?

Nothing more you gonna do with the trial, I mean?

Thought you didn't care.

No, I don't care. I don't care. It's just, you know, as long as you got shit

throw at him, we can keep talking, right? But when it's over, it's over,

Henry, I'm not here to keep you entertained until the executioner comes.

know, this trial isn't just a game.

What?

If I was on the outside, I mean, you know, if there was like a good fairy and

she waved her wand and I was on the outside, you and me, would we be friends

then?

Yes. No, no, no.

No, we wouldn't. You wouldn't have nothing to do with me, you know.

What I can't figure out is why, you know. I mean, we both ain't got nobody

and we're the same age, sort of. And if I'd have lived in your house and...

And they'd have switched us when we was babies.

I could have been just like you.

They stuck you down in the hole.

You could be sitting here just like me, asking how come we couldn't be friends

on the outside. You ever steal five bucks?

Once, when I was a kid, for my brother's wallet.

They put me in that hole for three years.

I could have been just like you.

I'd just like to ask them, you know?

Raise your right hand.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,

help you God?

Sure, help me God.

You may be seated.

Warden Thompson, in a book you wrote, you refer to the convicts as your

children. In fact, you liken your job to that of a parent, to providing for

their physical needs and molding their character.

Yes, I wrote that.

I have here a record of a prisoner named Johnson who did a total of 500 days in

the lower cells.

The hole, the dungeon.

This was over a 10 -year period for such offenses as not finishing all the food

on his plate, having an extra pair of socks in his cell, keeping an untidy

smuggling food from the dining room, crumbs, in fact, to a pet lizard. Now,

this what you mean when you say molding character?

No, no, no, no. You're twisting things here.

The, uh... Isolation cells were simply a tool of a temporary nature for extreme

cases within the general population.

Moreover, you make it sound like the prisoner did 1 ,500 days of one stretch

one infraction.

That's not true.

No.

Prisoners were held for 19 days at a time.

That's all.

That's all.

Well, perhaps you can tell me why Henry Young did over 1 ,000 days in the

dungeon. Not 19 days, but 1 ,000 days in total darkness with only 30 minutes of

daylight a year. Yes, but he tried to escape. You can't compare his offense

that of a man who smuggled food to a lizard.

Now, this was the first time a sentence of three years had been imposed, was it

not? It wasn't a sentence. It was an administrative decision to place him

for an undetermined amount of time.

Why not a time limit? Doesn't that seem a little bit inhumane? No time limit.

But simply, no.

While we strive to prevent crime, what should we do with the man who has

committed it?

We aim to make him his better self.

His better self.

Well, I'm sure that Henry Young thanks you for his better self.

Here's a fact, Mr. Humpton. You simply put Henry Young in that dungeon and

forgot all about him.

Lost your hands of him.

Now, Henry wanted me to ask you why. Why would you do that, sir? Why?

I didn't. That's not true. Your Honor, I withdraw the question. I apologize to

the jury.

It's not necessary that you apologize.

Actually, Your Honor, it is. You see, I made a mistake.

Warden Humson couldn't simply have just washed his hands of Henry Young. He

couldn't have, because he had absolutely no idea he was there.

Isn't that true, Warden? You are never there, and you permit Glenn to run that

prison any way he sees fit.

I am there as much as I need to be. I run three penal institutions.

It's impossible to know every detail of every inmate.

Now, I have the San Francisco Port Authority records that you signed every

you went, Alcatraz.

You went seven times in 38, five in 39, ten in 40, and only twice so far this

year. 24 day trips over three and a half years while Henry Young was in that

dungeon over 1 ,000 days.

24 out of 1 ,000 days.

That's as much as you're saying you needed to be there?

You knew nothing about a man who was left to die in a dungeon for three and a

half years, did you?

Absolutely nothing. In fact, you have never even met Henry Young, have you?

Right now, in fact, is the first time you have ever even seen this man. Look

him. That's him right there. That's Henry Young right there.

He tried to escape. Yeah, he tried to escape. But the fact, the cold, brutal

fact... Warden Humpston, is that this man, this man who had never, never

in his entire life harmed or attempted to harm another human being, never was

now a murderer. That is a fact, is it not? Yes, it is. And it is equally a

You can't let them get away with this. If we let them get away with this, where

would we be? What?

Should we let murderers roam the streets? Henry Young was not a murderer.

Young was not a murderer until Alcatraz got a hold of him.

Now, the prison runs under your guidelines.

So you created the murderer, didn't you?

Didn't you?

He tried to... He tried to escape.

That's... That's... That's the thing, you see.

Ah.

That's... Mr. Stamphill, do you have any further questions for this witness?

No, Your Honor. The witness may step down.

He tried to escape.

I've been trained all my life for that day.

Control the witness, go for the kill, win, victory.

School prepared me well.

My brother, he prepared me well.

Years later, he and I would reconcile.

Family's family, you know?

Mary congratulated me, but we'd already begun to drift apart.

When you only try to win, you sometimes lose sight of the goal.

Which should have always remained Henry.

There's no way they're going to send you to the gas chamber, Henry. Most of you

will get a second -degree murder. Maybe even manslaughter. Ten years if you get

a recommendation from Clemency and you'll walk.

You'll be a free man. You'll have your whole life in front of you.

Monday morning.

I want you to get up to that judge and I want you to tell him there's been a

change of plan.

I want you to get up there and change my plea to guilty.

That's a joke, right?

Not to me, it's not.

I'm not doing it.

Jesus Christ, I mean, what the hell have I been doing here? Why have I been

wasting my time?

I never thought we'd win.

I don't understand you. I thought you wanted to fight.

I just wanted a friend.

Henry, I am your friend.

No, you're not.

No, you're not.

It's always about you.

It's never about me. You don't understand.

I mean, I already lost. You just keep talking, talking, talking, and you never

listen. You certainly don't know what you're talking about because you just

don't know what it's like.

What? What's like?

Alcatraz!

I mean, what do you think they're going to send me those ten years you're

talking about?

They're going to send me back to Alcatraz, that's what.

Henry, when it's over, you'll be alive. You'll be able to take care of your

sister. I'm Henry.

I'm the one who's got to do the job, not you.

I can't do it. I can't do it.

I can't.

All right?

It's not worth it.

It's not worth it.

Is that a dial?

While we in here, Jim, maybe there are some things worth fighting for, Henry.

Do I know you?

I'm... I'm Rosanna Henry.

I'm your sister.

My, uh... My baby's

name is Henry.

You know, Mr. I was beginning to think

that you wasn't real, that I made

you up in my mind.

I want you to come. Rosella, I want you to tell Jim that I appreciate him

bringing you down here and knowing that you turned out okay.

That means a lot. I want you to tell him. Tell him come Monday morning.

He's gonna plead me guilty, just like I said.

I wish I wasn't so scared of them, Rosetta.

I wish to God I wasn't.

You take care of yourself now.

Thank you.

You may call your next witness, Mr.

Stamphill. Your Honor, be just a second.

Henry, I'm your friend. If we were on the outside, I'd be lucky to consider

my friend. Therefore, I'm not going to kill you.

Are you going to call a witness sometime today, Counselor? Yes, Your Honor.

Look, if you want to change your plea, you go up there and you do it, because

I'm not going to do it for you. I want you to plead me guilty. I don't think

are guilty. Damn that. It does to me.

Okay, Counselor, I am very close to finding you... Your Honor, the defense

Mr. Henry Young.

No! You just lost the case.

You seem to change your mind, and you go there, and you do it. Just repeat. I'm

not going to do it for you.

Counselor, unless... He's coming, Your Honor.

Go ahead. Tell him.

I'll ask you what I want to ask you. And I'll answer what I want to answer.

Fine. Fine.

Hand up.

Put your hand on the Bible.

Where to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and

matter now pending before this court, so help you God.

So help me God. State your name for the records.

Henry Young. Henry Young.

He's seated.

Your Honor, I'm... Henry, you want to wait until I've asked you a question? I

haven't asked you a question yet. He's trying to trick me.

Your Honor, would you please instruct the witness to refrain from speaking

I've asked him a question, then just to answer the question that I ask?

He's your witness, Counselor. He won't listen to me. He tried to trick me. I

just... Silence, Mr. Young.

Now, here's the way it works.

Mr. Stamp Hill will ask you a question.

Then you may answer that question.

However, Mr.

Stamphill cannot coerce you into testifying against yourself. Now, you do

understand that. Yeah, I just want to... Mr. Young, did you and I have a

conversation last Friday in which you told me you wished to change your

Mr. Stamphill, you will wait until I have finished instructing the witness.

That's okay. That's a question I wanted him to ask me.

It is not okay.

And I do not need you to tell me what is or is not okay.

In this courtroom, I am the one who decides what is or is not okay.

Okay?

Yes, Your Honor. Well, thank you very much.

Counselors, approach the bench.

Hey, you want to tell me what the hell is going on here?

Yeah. I mean, your old defendant is looking to me to protect him from you.

what's going on?

It seems very strange, but as far as I'm concerned, you're an idiot to put him

on stand for any reason. You're asking your own client to testify against

himself. Your Honor, I know it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, but the

prosecution isn't objecting, so... No, I'm not. Let him continue. Shut up.

Stamphill, enough damage has been done. I don't think I can mess things up

anymore. Oh, yes, you can.

All right, all right. But you're on a very short leash, Stamphill.

A very short leash.

I will throw you in jail for contempt myself.

Now, let's get this goddamn show on the road.

Let him or I'll get James. I think you're doing a great job.

Mr. Young, stop playing with that.

Now, do you or do you not wish to continue testifying, Mr. Young?

It's okay. He asked me the right question.

Counselor, you may proceed.

Mr. Young, did you and I not have a conversation last Friday which you told

you wished to change your plea from innocent to guilty?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I want to change my plea. That's what I told you. Mr. Young, I'm going to ask

you the single most important question I can ask you as to what this whole trial

is about.

Are you guilty of the murder of Rufus McCain?

Well, I want to... Won't you take my plea to guilty? That's what I said.

I didn't ask you what you said you wanted to do. I asked if you are guilty.

Objection, Your Honor. He's badgering the witness.

He's my witness, for Christ's sake. Now, you're nothing. If the accused wants to

enter a plea of guilty, I don't know why... Silence!

Mr. Stamphill, you are skating on very thin ice here.

Maybe, Your Honor, but I'd like to get to the other side.

Very well.

You may proceed at your own peril.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Let me take this one step at a time.

Mr. Young, we had a conversation in which I told you I felt with the way the

trial was going, the most you would have to face, more than likely, would be

another ten years. Maybe even less.

Ten years, that's what I said, right?

And then did you say to me that you, you were Henry, you were the guy who had to

do the time, not me.

You were the one that was going to stick back in Alcatraz to do those ten years,

right? That's what I told you. That's what I'm telling you now, why you're

this to me.

Because, Mr. Young, if you change your plea to guilty, they will execute you.

You will die. So fucking what?

I'd rather die than go back there.

I said I'd rather die than go back there. Can't you understand that?

Why, Henry? Why do you want to die?

Because.

Because I'm... I'm scared of him.

I'm scared to go back there. I'm scared.

I'm scared.

I'm scared.

Objection, Your Honor. He's finished. I haven't finished anything.

Henry. Henry, look at me. Henry, look at me.

Look at me.

You were right. You were right. I was wrong. I'm sorry.

I'm just talking to you right now, okay? Not the judge or the jury.

If you want to die, I will back you up.

But I swear to God, I will fight these bastards.

They will never be able to do this to anyone again.

You are not going to die for nothing.

The choice is yours, Henry.

What do you want to do?

I want to stop being afraid.

Henry Young.

Are you guilty of the murder of Rufus McCain?

How was the weapon?

But I ain't no killer.

They're the murderers.

Bailiff, you may remove the prisoner.

Escort the prisoner to the holding room.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you have received your instructions.

You may find the defendant guilty of involuntary manslaughter, which carries

with it a maximum penalty of three years, in which case the defendant will

remanded to the custody of the warden of Alcatraz.

Or you may find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree.

Without a recommendation for mercy, that verdict will carry with it... a

sentence of death.

Court is now in session.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, how do you find?

The defendant will rise.

We, the jury, find the defendant, Henry Young, not guilty of murder in the first

degree and guilty only of involuntary manslaughter.

Order! Order!

Your Honor, we would like permission to address the court if possible.

Very well.

Your Honor, we have this day.

signed a petition which I would like to read to the court.

We would like the following to be read into the record of this proceeding.

Though we know it will have no legal or binding effect, we would hope that it

will have a moral effect.

We, the members of the jury, recommend and request an immediate investigation

the proper federal authorities of the federal penitentiary known as Alcatraz.

We find this institution, its warden, an associate warden, guilty of crimes

against humanity.

Thank you.

The jury is dismissed.

This trial is concluded.

All rise.

The defendant is remanded to the custody of the warden of Alcatraz.

News from San Francisco. The Young trial concludes.

The Rock will be investigated as Young is vindicated by a verdict of

manslaughter. As I walked out of the courtroom that day,

I did not fully realize how much Henry and I had actually accomplished.

It all just happened so fast.

Henry.

Henry, I'm going to be up to sea as often as I can.

Yeah, maybe you can bring that glance back for the second shot, huh?

Yeah, I'll try. See what I can do. Let's go, Henry.

Henry, it's not over.

It's not over. I'm going to appeal. I'm going to appeal to have you moved to

another prison. I'm going to file motions to have your original case

Henry and Jay are together again, huh?

That's right. Henry and Jim together again.

Henry and Jim together again. Hey, Jim.

I won, didn't I?

I mean, I really did something.

I won.

That's right, Henry. You won.

Hey, Jim.

How many games was DiMaggio hitting three?

Fifty -four.

The definition of victory is success in any contest or struggle.

Engagement ending in triumph.

That was to be the last time I was to see Henry Young alive.

Before the court date was set for an appeal, his body was found in the cell.

He laid beneath a single word he had scrawled with a rock.

Victory.

Henry Young taught me the meaning of the word.

He was the only man that I have known who gave more than he asked.

All that he ever wanted was a friend.

And I will always remember him as one of the best friends I have ever had.

Unlike many men that live much longer, Henry Young did not die in vain.

In the end, he was not afraid.

He lived and he died in triumph.

If only we could all do that.

Well, come home.

I've missed you, Henry.

Mr. Grant, you can beat me.

You can put me back in that hole.

Whatever you want to do, it doesn't matter to me.

Charles Dickinson said the solitary confinement was inhumane.

Seven months later, the Supreme Court agreed.

And as a result of the facts brought out in the trial of the people versus Henry

Young, the dungeons of Alcatraz were closed forever.

Associate Warden Glenn was brought up on charges of mistreatment.

He was found guilty.

He would never work in the penal system again.

I remained in private practice.

I also became a baseball fan.

You did it, Henry.