Original subtitles

Weakling fool.

Says who?

Says me.

Man, your size should be lifting more weight than that.

Chambers, you got a visitor.

In a minute.

Come on, Rudy.

Said you got a visitor.

Look, I told everybody your buddy would make

it.

He'll make it.

No problem.

Okay.

Now, I've got a friend.

Name of Lesser.

Thank you.

Are you okay?

Yeah, yeah, I'm okay.

Let's go.

Forget it.

You're not going without me, man.

We're not going with you.

If the warden doesn't get here pretty soon, there's going to be a real

Come on, take it easy.

It doesn't even look strange.

It's so important I couldn't wait until morning.

Take a hike, Lenny.

You too.

What I have to say could shorten my life expectancy.

What do you want?

Transfer.

To Greenwood Prison Camp.

What have you got?

Val Delaney, Billy Costello, and Art Springer on their way to the woodshop.

out of your institution right now.

Let's go.

I know who snitched.

I, uh... I don't know. I figured, you know, if you're interested, maybe we

work something out.

What do you need?

Protection.

No problem.

It was Rudy Chambers. I don't think

so. He wasn't hurt.

His ankle was fine.

Two minutes after he gets into the infirmary, the warden shows up.

Now, I couldn't hear what they said, but the next thing you know, the warden

runs out, and you guys get nailed.

I'm telling you.

It was Chambers.

Hey, Lenny, what's the big hurry? I'm busy.

That's not very nice, Lenny. We have to talk.

I'm out of pills.

I'll get you some later, okay?

Hey, what's the problem? You seem anxious.

I am.

Just leave me alone, all right?

They'll send in the National Guard and kill all of us.

Maybe we can use them to get things changed around here.

He's right.

Think about it.

The inmates have taken over the prison and are holding 15 guards hostage.

Two pool reporters were allowed inside the prison this morning where they heard

the inmates' demands.

According to prison leaders, the riot began after an inmate was murdered by a

guard. Though a large part of the population was for executing the guard,

instead, the prisoners have announced an unprecedented plan to put him on trial

for murder inside the prison.

All names have been withheld at this time, and no further information is

available. As soon as we get more information, we'll pass it along to you.

the state prison in Atlanta.

Oh,

Pete, come on in.

You look awful.

Sit down. You want some coffee?

No, thanks.

I appreciate your seeing me on such short notice, Ben.

Well, the attorney general of the state of Georgia says he wants to see me

immediately. You've got to figure something up.

I've been up at the prison negotiating, trying to get the hostages out. Yeah, I

was listening to that on TV. Any luck?

Well, we might have had a minor breakthrough this morning.

You've heard about this trial the prisoners want?

A kangaroo court.

Well... You think his guard got a chance?

I don't know.

The prisoners want to use this to get their demands.

They know the media's watching.

They promise a fair trial.

And they want an outside defense lawyer.

Oh. Oh, well, uh... Call Sam White. He's the best around. Just ask him. Ben,

they want you.

No. No, no, no, no, no. They saw your name in the paper just last week. You

here. What's that got to do with anything?

Ben, they're positive the guard is guilty.

What the hell can I do?

They know you'll try.

Oh, come on, Pete. They're willing to trade half the hostages when you go in.

This was your idea, wasn't it? The governor is getting all kinds of

send in the National Guard and retake the prison by force.

The best estimate is that all the hostages and 70 to 80 prisoners will

I need a way to buy time.

And you want me to be the clock.

Well... No, no.

The prisoners will guarantee your safety.

Guarantee?

Some drunk or dope head blows somebody's head off, but he says, I guarantee it

won't kill you. Why do you think these people are in prison?

This is with the attorney general.

Sir?

Well, gentlemen, Ben Matlock, this is the warden, Paul Brandon. Yes, sir.

Matlock, I really respect what you're doing, sir.

Well... Oh, that's just for your own protection, sir.

How are things in there?

Quiet. They're waiting for you.

Do you think John Jackson committed this murder?

No. I mean, he's tough and very often hard to get along with, but he's not a

killer.

There are others who had good reason to go after Chambers.

Yeah, Peter told me this Chambers fellow snitched. On Art Spring, Billy

Costello, and Val Delaney. All sociopaths.

Art Spring is here for murder.

I'll need their files.

Ben, they're ready.

Mr. Matlock, good luck.

I hope you can make it work.

Oh, I'd like that, too.

What was it the fellow said? A better thing I've never done. I think a dumber

thing I've never done.

Somebody

will

always be here if you want anything.

And Ben, good luck.

Bye.

It's Thomas.

Yeah, Jim.

There's the dude.

Mr. Matlock, I'm Steve Mazerowski.

This is Deacon Holmes. Well, Peter Garner said you boys would make sure

everything was all right. You have our word.

Right this way.

Hey, get lost. You get lost, man. What you talking about?

Come on, man. Not everybody here wants to have this trial.

Some think we should just grab Jackson into the chair and watch him cry. Get

of the way, man.

Get crowded around here.

Well, whose bright idea was this truck?

Mine?

See, if we kill that guard, this prison goes all the way back to the dark ages.

I'd like to see some improvements around here.

I'd like to have some faith on how this place is run.

You've heard of jailhouse lawyers?

Jailhouse lawyers?

I learned the law after I came in here.

And, uh, I learned it pretty good.

You gonna prosecute?

With a vengeance.

And with everything I know.

Like my daddy used to say, I'm gonna whoop your butt, Mr. Matlock.

What if I whoop the other?

You won't.

Right here.

You can go any place you want to.

Talk to anybody you want.

Call any witness I want?

Uh -huh.

And, uh, oh, yeah, you stay here at night.

That wasn't part of the deal.

No, it is now.

That was not part of the deal. Well, look at it this way. Some of us here are

taking this trial very seriously.

We're gambling everything on it to improve some of the conditions in this

Uh, look, if anything happens you don't like, you talk to me.

I'm a hostage.

Harsh word. You're a visitor who can't leave unless I say so.

You'll be all right.

Nothing will happen to you. All right, all right. Think of it as an experience.

Here's my part of the deal.

I'll stay.

But I've got to have privacy once in a while.

I'll have clean clothes sent in every day, and you've got to let anybody I

in and out of this prison.

Okay.

I want to see my client right now in private.

I want to see the hostages to be sure they're okay.

I want Rudy Chambers' body taken out of this prison and a full autopsy

performed.

And all inmates informed that they have to answer my questions.

Anything else? Yeah.

If you know they're lying, you've got to step forward and say so. Otherwise,

this whole thing means nothing.

Okay. Anything else?

You're damn right.

I want a bodyguard.

Say hello to Tiny.

Your client's right over here.

John Jackson, meet Ben Matlock.

Open it up, Deacon.

Yell when you're ready to leave.

Tiny will let you out.

This trial's a joke.

It might be.

Well, let's get started. Did you have a fight with Rudy Chambers?

No.

Did you kill him?

What difference does it make? Answer the question. Did you kill him? No, I

didn't kill anybody.

Why were you in the infirmary?

Somebody hit me in the head and they drug me in there.

Somebody went to a lot of trouble.

Yeah, right. Somebody went to a lot of trouble to frame me.

I got the perfect case and they're going to convict me.

Maybe.

They can convict you in 15 minutes or 15 days. The longer it takes, the better

it is for you.

It's going to take me a month of Sundays to get any kind of truth out of these

birds. They all lie and steal and kill for a living. You're going to have to

help me.

Okay. Now, you knew Rudy Chambers.

Did he do anything different in the last two or three months?

No.

Maybe one thing. He had visitors. He never had them before.

Check the visitor's log.

No, no.

And Val Delaney, Art Spring, Billy Costello,

did they have a beef with you?

No, not particularly.

Probably one of them killed Rudy Chambers and then framed you.

to go with your client.

Well, fine.

Did it ever occur to you to seal off the scene of the crime and all the evidence

is destroyed?

We had a riot here, Mr. Matlock.

Lenny?

Ben Matlock, this is Lenny Marcus.

He's one of my eyewitnesses.

You got a minute?

Yeah, Billy Ray and Paul can handle this. Come on.

I wasn't the only one who walked in and saw John Jackson.

Who else was there?

Jerry Stone and some bull, I don't know.

Looked like Jerry hurt his knee or something.

Now, you said you left the infirmary for about 20 minutes that

night. Uh -huh.

Where'd you go?

D block, death row.

I got a call. They said someone got cut.

When I got there, no one was hurt, so I went to dinner.

I hear Rudy Chambers was a snitch.

You got that right.

How'd you know?

I was the one who taped his ankle the night of the break.

He wasn't hurt.

And I saw him talking to the warden. I mean, it doesn't take a genius to figure

out what he was doing.

Did you tell that to anybody else?

What, now you're asking me to snitch?

You're a witness.

Either you tell me the truth...

Or you tell it in the courtroom in front of all your friends.

Look, Mr. Matlock, I come up for parole in six months.

If you could put in a good word, you know, let them know that I helped.

I could do that.

I told Val Delaney.

I want to go see the hostages.

Okay, let's go.

You

don't

talk much, do you?

Uh -uh.

That's good.

Chet Weber?

You know who?

I put him away.

All right, that's it.

I want to see Steve right now. Come on, let's go.

Yeah,

bring it on over there, will you?

Put two in this corner.

All right, that's it. I'm going home.

No. You can't have a...

Every single one of these people wants John Jackson dead. I can't even conduct

an investigation.

I was just jumped.

Tiny's not doing his job? If it weren't for Tiny, I'd probably be dead. I'm

going home. Not going home until this thing is over. Here.

Warden wanted you to have these.

I'm Billy Shee.

I guess this means we're suspects, huh?

That's the theory.

We are not violent men.

I robbed banks, Mr. Matlock.

You haven't robbed a bank in ten years.

Your specialty now is breaking out of prison.

Five attempts, three successes.

After planning a break for six months, don't you get a little aggravated

One of the fellas you're breaking out with turns you in?

Aggravated doesn't cover it.

Now, how do you feel about Rudy?

Rudy?

He's got what he deserved.

You

don't like

it? No.

What is it?

Lunch.

Food stinks.

We want better.

Have my support.

Get back to what we were talking about.

Then let me give you a word of advice.

You're barking up the wrong tree.

Well, I don't know. It says here that you were convicted of three counts of

armed robbery, Mr. Costello. Two counts of felony assault for pistol -whipping

security guards. Some people might call that.

Uh, violent.

I didn't kill Rudy Chambers. Let me ask you two gentlemen a question you've

probably answered many times before.

We'll start with you, Mr. Delaney. Where were you at the time of the murder?

Dinner. Anybody see you?

About four or five hundred people.

Mr. Costello?

I never miss a meal.

So you each have four or five hundred convicted felons.

That'll corroborate your alibi.

You got a visitor, huh?

Ben. Yeah.

You all right?

Yeah, I'm all right.

So, how is it in here?

I gotta tell you the truth. I'd rather be someplace else.

I'm starving, and the food is... There it is.

This is... I mean, I'm... What?

Oh, thanks.

Thank God.

Hey, you look great. Thanks. You know anything?

Some. You?

Well, hey, Marcus, the orderly.

He said that Rudy faked an injury.

Now, why would somebody escaping from prison fake an injury?

I got that one.

The warden apologizes. He said things were happening so fast when he came in.

made a deal.

Rudy Chambers wanted to be transferred to Greenwood Prison Camp. So he thought

he'd feel safe in the infirmary until his papers came through.

That didn't work out, did it?

So you got to look at the visitor log?

Yeah. Okay, Rudy Chambers had two visits in four years.

Both of them last month.

A guy named Ed Harper.

No record.

The police intelligence has him on file.

Say, Ron's with a pretty rough crowd, so I'll keep an eye on him.

Yeah.

Would you spend the afternoon with me?

I'll fill you in on what I know about the case.

Inside? Yeah.

You can get out.

You can't get out. No, I know, but you can.

Will you?

Yeah.

I've got to go see the prosecutor for a few minutes. I'll meet you back here.

Why the hell did you do this?

Conrad, it's just one of those deals. I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I

don't.

Tiny, you go with him. I'll be okay.

Can you take me to see Art Spring?

Mr. Spring, how you doing? I'm Conrad McMasters. I'm working for Ben Matlock.

I didn't kill Rudy Chambers.

Somebody beat me to it.

But you would have?

Oh, yeah.

The creep needed to be dead.

Wish I could take the bows, but it wasn't at the right place at the right

Mind telling me the place you were at that right time?

Playing bridge.

Don't be funny.

I was watching the Braves play the Mets in the TV room.

What's that about?

Something to do.

What, another lawyer?

Almost.

Why were those guys yelling at you?

It's just my cellmate.

Well, why were they beating him up?

Should I know, man?

Would it have something to do with Rudy Chambers' death?

Look, I gotta get to the infirmary, all right?

It's okay. It's okay. Let him go.

Deep like them.

Stay over there.

Hi.

Ben Matlock.

Glad to know you.

Donny Osmond.

Hi.

Oh.

Georgia versus Sherwood. Interesting case.

You working on the peel?

Pretty complicated stuff in there.

Maybe sometime I could help you.

Ben Matlock.

I want to know if you saw Lenny Marcus the night Rudy Chambers

was killed.

He said he was in cell block D.

Writing a motion is very difficult.

You'd help?

Come on.

If Lenny came to D -Block that night, I would have seen him.

I didn't see him.

See that old guy over there?

Huh? One coffin?

He can barely walk.

That's Charlie Hawk.

Best safecracker south of the Mason -Dixon.

Taught Rudy Chambers everything he knew.

Yeah? I think I'm going to have a conversation with Mr. Hawk about Rudy.

Well, it's getting pretty late.

You better go.

Yeah, I was... I was thinking I'd spend the night.

Oh, Conrad, you don't have to do that. I know, I know.

It's all right.

I'll get us some blankets.

All right.

Tiny, Tiny will watch.

Hey, Tiny?

Right down here, man.

Second sale.

Hi.

Conrad McMaster. Yeah.

Where's Lenny?

Lenny doesn't live here anymore.

What happened?

Lenny got himself some muscle.

Those guys who were hassling you in the yard yesterday?

Uh -huh.

How long did you and Lenny live together?

Four years.

So why are those guys helping him now? What changed?

Lenny deals drugs.

Around here, that makes a difference.

Mm -hmm.

Them guys don't do drugs.

What do I know?

This court is in session.

Mr. Masarowski, are you ready to question the prospective jurors? I am.

Now, we're here to judge whether John Jackson murdered Rudy Chambers.

Now, we're doing this because we believe if Mr. Jackson were tried on

the outside, the powers that be would ensure that he walked.

But if we are to be viewed as a serious alternative, we

must do this in an honest and orderly fashion.

Even if it means clearing this whole damn room.

I ain't going nowhere.

Your Honor, could counsel approach the bench?

Come on.

Your Honor, excuse me for asking, but what are

your qualifications for running this court?

I used to be a lawyer.

He killed one of his clients.

You satisfied now?

Well, if you don't mind, then we'll begin.

Mr. Davis, are you aware of the murder... of Rudy Chambers, or have you

discussed his death with anyone here in prison?

Of course.

Have you formed an opinion on the guilt or innocence of the defendant?

No, I haven't. Do you honestly believe that you could put aside all personal

opinion and judge John Jackson strictly on the basis of the facts presented in

this court?

Absolutely. Thank you.

Mr. Matlock?

Mr. Davis?

Do you believe that you could judge John Jackson solely on the basis of facts,

in spite of the fact that he put you in solitary confinement three times?

He was only doing his job.

Challenge for cause.

I'll take it under submission.

How do you feel about the guards in this prison?

I hate their guts.

Challenge for cause.

I'll take it under submission.

What were you convicted of? Murder.

I figure this would be a true jury of peers.

One murderer judging another.

Challenge for Carl. Your Honor!

Mr. Matlock, somehow, someway, we're going to have to settle on a jury.

Now, is there any reason to believe we can improve on this group we have here

now?

No reason whatsoever, Your Honor. As far as I can tell, every man in

this institution Wants to convict my client.

View it as a challenge, Mr. Matlock.

Current panel will stand. Object so noted.

This court is in recess till after lunch.

May I help you?

I'm here to see my client.

Your name, please.

Ron Wallace.

Rudy Chambers, attorney.

Hmm, your name isn't on the list.

That's odd. I called.

Only visitors that make arrangements before are allowed in. I told you I

Look, I don't want to cause any problems.

My client was supposed to be transferred in here last week.

If you'll just let me know that he's here, I'll spend the night and come back

the morning.

I'm sorry, I can't release that information.

Hey, I just drove four hours. I can't release that information.

Well, just before dinner, I got a call from D -Block.

They said someone had gotten cut and that I should go up.

Did you recognize the voice on the phone?

It sounded like John Jackson.

But you're not sure?

No, I'm not.

Then what happened?

Well, when I got to D -Block, it turned out it was a false alarm. No one was

hurt. So I went to dinner, and when I was finished eating, I got a meal for

Chambers. And I headed back.

Did you see anybody along the way? Yeah.

Some guard was bringing Jerry Stone to the infirmary. It looked like Jerry had

twisted his knee.

So the three of you went back to the infirmary together?

That's right.

And what did you see?

First, I saw Rudy Chambers on his bed. He was covered with blood.

And John Jackson was standing over him. And it looked like they'd been in a

horrible fight.

Was anybody else there?

No.

Nothing further?

Mr. Matlock?

Yes, sir.

It must be difficult

staying here, a small person like yourself.

Do people pick on you?

Yes. Did your cellmate, Dick Henderson, pick on you, beat you up?

Yeah. What did he want?

Drugs. He wanted me to steal drugs for him from the infirmary.

You don't share a cell with Dick Henson anymore, do you? No, I don't. Someone

stronger and more powerful than Dick must have taken care of that for you.

Some friends took care of it, yeah.

You know, since I've stayed here the last couple of days, I can't help but

notice you've got a lot of new friends.

People who protect you.

People who beat up Dick Henderson.

Tell them to leave you alone.

They must be the ones who arranged for your new cell, weren't they? But why

What have you done or agreed to do for these new friends?

Nothing.

Did you lie?

Are you protecting a killer?

No. No?

Now, you've testified.

that you went to D -Block on the night of the murder.

Yes. Why didn't anybody see you?

I don't... How do I know? You were told to go to D -Block, weren't you?

You were told to say you got a phone call to go to D -Block because some

wanted you out of that infirmary so that they could kill Rudy Chambers and set

up this whole thing.

And then those people became your new best friends. Isn't that the deal,

No, no way.

Protection from Dick Henderson in return for looking the other way.

No, that's a lie.

Only you didn't go to D Block, did you?

Would you stay around, watch a while?

Who's paying you off?

Your Honor, instruct the witness to answer the question.

Lenny, answer the man.

Get lost.

Who killed Rudy Chambers?

I'm warning you, Lenny.

What? What are you going to do?

You're going to cite me for contempt?

What, you're going to throw me in jail?

Sir, may we approach the witness?

Come on.

Look, you can't protect me on them.

They'll wait.

They'll wait till my guard is down and you're tired of watching and they'll get

me. And I'm not going to die.

For John Jackson or for your stupid trial?

Answer the question.

Forget it.

I'm alive.

I'm going to stay alive.

Your Honor, defense would like to request a brief recess.

How long?

Half hour, top. This court is adjourned to 125.

I need to speak with the warden.

Yeah.

I believe we're making progress.

I think that Lenny Marcus knows who killed Rudy Chambers. I had him on the

stand, but he wouldn't talk.

Afraid if he does, he'll get killed.

He told me the other day that he's coming up for parole. He asked me if I

say a good word. I believe if you'll give him an early parole and put him

somewhere now that's safe, we can wrap this thing up and you can get your

back.

Where's Lenny? Courtroom. Come on.

Got a feeling.