Original subtitles

- Good evening.

How do you do?

I find myself here as the result of a misunderstanding.

I thought I was going to bathe in champagne,

but find myself stomping grapes instead.

I did have a partner working with me,

but a short time ago, he sank without trace.

There is one consolation to drowning in wine:

he had a smile on his face as he went under.

However, I'm not complaining,

I always wanted to have my tennis shoes dyed,

though I didn't plan on having

burgundy-colored feet as well.

But life must go on.

Tonight's story is about a man called Perry,

and begins after a minute called tedious.

- All right, boy.

Let's go.

Unless you'd rather stay here.

- He don't look so dangerous to me, Cap.

Where'd you find him?

- Oh, taking a dip in the lake.

Can't blame ya, boy.

Sure is a pretty day for it.

You shoulda found out about our hospitality

before you came here robbing our banks, boy.

It'll be a long time waiting to spend all that money.

Is it true what the papers say,

nine banks between here and Boston?

Close to half a million cool, crinkly dollars?

Your partner must be having one sweet time

spending his share.

Now, there's a way outta here for ya, a smart way,

tell me who your partner is.

Tell me who he is and where he is, and return the money.

Think about it.

- I'd never want that kinda money.

- Just the way I feel.

All any man needs is a decent home and a steady job,

things our boy here couldn't appreciate.

- Appreciate, appreciate what?

The next 10 years of mush, beans and sow belly?

- Get in the truck.

- You trustees sure live easy as a hound dog on a porch.

What are ya doin', Doc?

Planting some fresh stuff in your garden?

- Well, I find myself in difficulties here, Captain.

I turned my back and the deceased or the grave

or both of 'em started spinning around and around

and around, now I can't tell a head from a foot.

- Well, either way, he isn't gonna complain.

Tell you what I'll do for you, Doc,

I'll give ya hand at setting that marker if, uh,

if you give me a shot of that clinic juice of yours.

- Something, that Doc, isn't he?

Never saw a man hate to bury people much as he.

Just can't keep away from that bottle on burial day.

- Ah, I guess that puny heart of his needs it.

Good thing for him that he and the Captain

are such close friends.

- Here.

That is a prodigious shot, my friend.

Having you around's like dying of thirst.

- That stuff hits like four sticks of dynamite.

Why don't you try easing that pure grain

with a little water, Doc?

- Now, how are you gonna tell a head from the foot?

You tell me that, huh?

- That's north, all heads point north.

- You, you have the wisdom of Solomon, my friend,

I bow to you.

This place is full of holes,

it's perilous to life and limb.

- You all right, Doc?

- Of course I'm all right.

- You're sure?

- Sure, I'm all right.

- I stopped by,

I'd tell you about your granddaughter,

but maybe I'd better wait till tomorrow.

- Elissa, what, you tell me-- - Nothing--

- Cap, what happened? - Nothing happened, Doc.

Nothing but good.

Judge Benson was over for dinner last night.

Said it looked like maybe Elissa

might be taken into the county hospital.

She'll be a fortunate girl, if she is.

- You think so, Captain?

Now, you really think so?

- What are saying, Doc?

This is just what you've been wanting yourself,

for years, you know that.

Of course I think so.

It'll be the best thing all around, for you, for Bart,

especially for Elissa, you know that.

- I guess you're right, Captain.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

- Sure I am.

She'll be looked after, she'll be well taken care of.

Now, let's get this marker in place.

- All right.

- You better start back for camp, Doc,

and keep your nose outta that jar.

Alcohol and a weak heart don't mix.

I don't wanna spend the rest of my night

looking around for a place for you in there

with the rest of your friends.

- Now don't you worry about my heart.

It's hitting on all cylinders, and if it does stop,

I've got my own place picked out,

in that corner right over there.

- Well, let's not rush it, huh?

I did enough running around for one day

looking for this boy.

- Why, did he do something?

- Tried.

He's got to break out of every prison they put him into,

a matter of reputation.

But he's learning fast.

Only reputation means anything around here is mine.

You try beating it outta here just one more time

and you'll finish your sentence right in there.

- No supper for him, no smokes, nothing.

- You know, you're real simple.

No one ever got away from Tolman, ever.

- Step up here.

Get him shackled, and make sure

it's a good job, permanent.

Get two hours of work out of him, every hour.

Take some of that steam out of him.

He's got a dozen warrants waiting for him

and think he's a pretty sharp boy,

thinks he can outsmart us and beat it outta here.

Keep an eye on him, and don't lose him.

- All right.

That'll hold him.

- Come in.

- Step right up there.

Fold your arms.

- Perhaps if I refresh your memory,

you'll have a better understanding

of the purpose of this meeting.

You've had experience enough to know

that attempting to break out of prison is a felony.

Last night, I made out a compliant charging you

with just such a felony.

My duty, of course, is de facto a warden of this camp.

Now, perhaps you recognize the existence of law,

perhaps you even further recognize

that the law extends it's protection

to your kind as well as to honest, respectable men.

- What do you want from me, Captain?

- Patience, patience, Mr. Perry, we have time.

As I was saying, you're entitled

to a fair trial, impartial.

You can avail yourself of this legal right.

As a matter of fact, under ordinary circumstances,

I'd urge you to do just that.

But, your luck holds strong, Mr. Paul Perry.

From the district attorney's office,

let's see, here we are,

"Should the defendant agree

to waive trial by entering a plea of guilty,

the county will be saved considerable court expenses

and the defendant will profit

in terms of a greatly reduced sentence."

Now, suppose you insist on going to trial.

You'll be found guilty of attempted escape, of course.

That means five years on top of the 10 years

you're already serving.

Do you understand?

15, that's a lotta years.

However,

"If the defendant pleads guilty to the charges,

"the district attorney's office

guarantees a sentence of one year."

- It's nice to have a free choice.

Well, as your legal guardian and friend,

I hope your choice is the one I'd make for you.

- One year, huh?

That makes 11 all total.

A man can serve 11 years quicker than he can 15, can't he?

- Aw, just sign the papers.

You can read them if you want.

Here's my pen.

Wherever you see the X mark.

- Here you are, sir.

May I go now?

- Just one moment, Mr. Perry.

You're now serving 11 years.

With time off for good behavior, you'll be outta here

in seven years and four months, won't you?

Well, there's not too bad.

Now, as a man who's been arrested a number of times

and has been in and out of a number of prisons,

I'm sure you realize the fact that I'm the one empowered

to dispose of your good time off as I see fit.

Well, I see fit to take away all your good time off.

I want you here for at least 11 solid years.

Get him outta here.

- All right, take a break.

- Hey, I need somebody to give me a hand down here.

- All right, Doc, here, right this way.

Well, fresh as new paint

and full of turpentine, too.

Just what we need, huh?

Go along with Doc, you, he's got some chores for ya.

Hey Doc, if he slacks off, give a yell.

I'll be around.

Now, I'm gonna need six of these.

We make 'em kinda generous, don't we?

Room for two of me in there.

Well, that comes of having an abundance of cheap lumber

and cheap labor and cheap life.

Well, come on, let's get going.

Now, drag it into the morgue right,

that door, right straight through there.

I'll bring the cover.

Doc!

- Sit down,

take it easy, take it easy.

You all right?

- Yeah.

- Can you hear me?

- Yeah, I'm all right, I'm all right.

- Take it easy.

- Ah, yeah, that's, that's better.

Can, can you give me a cigarette?

- Yeah. - Please.

I'm getting too old for even light work.

Ah, these palpitations got me down.

- Better?

- Ah, ah, that's, that's good.

Say, you're that young fella that

tried to escape from here yesterday, aren't ya?

You don't look like a desperate criminal to me.

Well, that's what the newspapers called ya.

- You know what the newspapers are like.

- What's your hurry about getting out?

You hardly been here a week.

- Yeah, but that world out there, Doc,

it's got a little more to offer

than what I can find in here.

- I suppose it has.

I used to feel that way, 29 years ago.

- 29 years?

What are you waiting for?

- Well, now there's a chance.

Now, I might get let outta here legitimately next year, and,

uh, that, that, that thing.

- Sit down, take it easy, I'll get it.

- Ah, you'll bring the rest

of those coffins in tomorrow.

Thanks for your help.

- Maybe someday you'll be able to help me.

- Sure, yeah.

- Hello, Paul.

You're not allowed to have any watch worth more than $10.

Now, that's a copy of my offer of restitution.

Won't do you any good though, Paul.

They've already turned us down.

This place is horrible.

Is the rest of it like this?

Oughta be some way of getting you transferred outta here.

- Look, I want out.

- All right, just calm down, Paul.

- Now, you get me outta here.

- Calm down, Paul, and listen to me.

I can't help you, Paul, if you keep getting into trouble.

Well, the papers are still full

of the escape that you tried outta here.

Paul, listen to me, I've done everything

that can be done, you know that.

I've used every known device.

Every argument, every offer has been turned down.

Look, we're not quitting, Paul.

You're still a young man.

Things will change.

And in the meantime, you just do your work

and keep your nose clean and, above all, let's keep

outta trouble, will ya?

Paul, Paul, listen to me.

I'll even make an appeal to the governor.

Maybe we'll get

some kind of break.

- They had enough time.

- All right, visiting hours are over.

- Good-bye, Paul.

- Come on, come on.

- Thank you!

- Oh, Doc?

Come over to my office, I wanna see you for a minute.

- Captain?

Ah! - Come in, Doc.

Not clinical like your juice, but just as mellowing.

Your getting pretty friendly

with that Paul Perry fella, huh?

- He ain't no friend of mine,

I mind my own affairs.

- Now, don't get worried, Doc.

I want you to do me a special favor.

I want you to get friendly with him.

He's looking to use you.

That was the idea behind that paper toy,

he's going to plan another escape.

Encourage him, Doc, and keep me posted.

- I ain't never ratted!

- Ah, you don't have to tell me that.

I'm asking ya to do this as a friend

who wants to see you free

and that wants to help your family.

- Ah, if that's the way you want it, Cap.

- That's the way I want it.

- I need another shot.

- Sure, Doc, I was just about to suggest it myself.

I, uh, I saw Judge Benson at church this morning.

He showed me a letter from the county hospital commissioner.

I'm afraid, Doc, it's gonna be a long time

before they have room for Elissa at the hospital.

There's a waiting list from here to city hall,

even with pressure.

Everybody's using pressure.

- You know, it's a funny thing, Cap,

Elissa's entitled to more than just charity

from a county hospital.

Now, even that little bit's denied, too.

You see what I mean?

- Just don't give up, Doc.

We'll keep on trying.

- Money is all Elissa needs, money for a specialist

and money to give her a chance at a healthy, normal life.

You see what I mean, Cap?

It's just as well this thing didn't work out.

Elissa's entitled to more than charity

from a county hospital.

- You'll get over it.

And we're not giving up.

Doc, in the meantime,

don't forget Paul Perry.

- Got it pretty much made in here, haven't you, Doc?

- Ooh, yeah, I guess you could say that.

That's my reward for 29 years

of faithful servitude.

You know, that was a pretty nice thing you did

for Elissa today, giving her that little toy.

You see, my son does odd jobs around town,

and he hardly gets along.

I earn 12 cents a day in here.

And I need $5,000.

- Everybody needs $5,000, Doc.

- Yeah, but.

I can earn $5,000 from you.

I can get you outta here.

You write a letter to your pal or your lawyer,

and you tell him to send

$5,000 cash to my son,

and I'll mail a letter myself.

- What are you getting at, Doc?

How do I know you can get me out of here?

Are you trying to set me up, you and your friend Tolman?

- I don't have to trust you Paul,

but you've got to trust me.

Because, I tell ya, I can get you out.

- How, a magic wand, detachment of Marines?

Look, Doc, with Tolman on my back, how could you get me out?

- Now, just suppose, just suppose something

like this happens, a con in here dies,

and before the funeral detail arrives,

you get right in the coffin with him.

We put the coffin on my truck,

we take it out to the cemetery and we bury it.

Then, the funeral detail comes back to the prison here,

but I stick around until the grave mark is in place,

do you see, Paul?

- You wanna bury me.

Are you outta your head, Doc?

I want out alive.

- Sure, I'm gonna bury you.

But as soon as that funeral detail's outta sight,

I dig the coffin up, I pry open the lid.

You pop out, and then we refill the grave.

You're on your way.

I can even hide ya out until the heat's off, sure,

a place in the hills.

- Ah, you're way ahead of me, Doc.

What am I supposed to do while I'm in the coffin,

hold my breath?

- Oh, there's plenty of air till I get you, Paul.

You gotta take my word as a doctor for that.

- It doesn't sound right to me, Doc.

Too many problems.

How do I get into a coffin with a corpse?

How do we get a corpse?

How 'bout frisks?

Too many chances to take before I even get started.

You think of something simple and you got yourself $5,000.

- Simple, of course, it is simple, Paul,

if you'll only think about it.

Now, the only problem I see

is how you're gonna get in the coffin with the corpse

from wherever you are.

The coffin will be right there by the door

waiting to be taken out to the cemetery.

- That's a big gamble.

It means escaping inside of a prison

in order to escape outside of a prison.

But I could do it.

- Sure you could.

And don't worry about the frisks.

There'll be no frisks, Paul.

I get complete charge of everything

from the time a con dies until a grave marker's in place.

Tolman just signs the death certificate, right on my say so.

I'm the only person who's sure

that the right man's being buried.

- Does Tolman or one of the other guards

check the coffin, check the body?

- Of course I told ya not.

Everything's all right.

- Give me your son's address.

- Our story will continue

after this friendly interruption from your local station.

- Be careful about mistaking the iodine with the castor oil,

be disastrous to treat cuts and bruises with castor oil.

- Ah, it'd be a worse disaster

to treat indigestion with iodine.

- Just visiting around, how about a sip?

- Well, I couldn't turn down

a fine offer like that, now could I?

- Um, one of the guards tells me

that Elissa and Bart left town,

went back east to some fancy hospital.

- That's right, I didn't get a chance

to talk to you about it.

She's gonna have an operation.

- Oh, suddenly?

Bart hit it lucky in the stock market?

Why didn't you tell me, Doc?

- Well-- - You trying to hide

something from me?

- Course not, I borrowed the money

from an old school buddy of mine

and now she can afford the operation.

- Old school buddy wouldn't happen to be

old jailbird Paul Perry, now would it?

- Of course not.

He's been avoiding me, I told you that.

- Yeah.

The truth is, I suspect your lying.

When you lie to me, Doc,

you're just another con, remember that.

And remember I gotta ton of shackles,

every one 'em your size.

- All right, let's go let down those hooks.

- That's it.

- Hey, look out!

- Hey, Paul!

- Aah!

- Gimme your hand!

- Is he bad?

- His arm's fractured, rib cage is all smashed.

Of course, without x-rays,

it's hard to tell just how much damage has been done.

- Well, do you wanna send him back

to the main prison hospital?

- No, you move him, you'll kill him.

No, everything's being done for him that can be done.

- You make it sound like

his clock's about to stop.

Get back to work, you two.

- Take it easy, friend.

All right, hold it right there, fellas.

Okay, come on, now let it down.

Come on!

Oh, aah!

- You men there, give us a hand!

- Rather knock it off with a chisel, every time.

Doing it with a tree is doing it the hard way,

that's my opinion.

- You all done?

Send your opinion to the newspapers.

Come on, let's go.

- You must be crazy doing a thing like this.

By all the laws of logic, you should have lost your foot.

Why did you take a chance like that?

- Take a chance every time I draw a breath, we all do.

Main thing is I'm here.

Only hope our friend there is as ready as I am.

- Yeah, well, he's not as lucky as you are.

All his bones are broken, and yours are intact.

With this cast, everybody will think you got a broken foot.

But don't be too optimistic about walking.

Walking is gonna be more painful than you think.

Be some time before you walk normally again.

- Well, that's the best news I've heard all day.

It's not that I don't like ya, boy, I just don't trust ya.

I don't trust ya even with a busted foot.

I'm shipping him back to the main prison.

He'll be transferred sometime tomorrow.

- How long, Doc?

- Hours, maybe.

Minutes, maybe.

He might last until tomorrow.

- Boston beans, concentrated energy.

Here, you better try and eat some.

May be a long time before you get your next meal

if your luck holds out.

- It's been four hours, Doc.

How much longer?

- Like I said, I don't know.

- It's getting late.

You'll be locked up in another three hours.

If he's not gone by then, I'm finished.

Now, you heard Tolman,

he wants to keep that no escape record of his.

He wants to get rid of me.

- All we can do is wait.

Unless you'd like to have a drink?

- No, no drink.

You lay off that stuff yourself.

Look Doc, he's gonna die anyway.

Couldn't you do something, help him out of his pain?

If you don't have the belly for it, I'll do it.

- You make one move to kill this man,

and I'll go straight to Tolman.

I swear it, one move!

Killing isn't part of our deal,

and killing isn't going to become part of our deal.

When this man dies, if he dies,

I'll carry out my part of the bargain

exactly like I said I would.

You make one move to kill him and you kill this whole deal.

- I didn't mean it that way, Doc.

Not the way you're putting it.

- Well, let's have a drink.

- Doc!

Doc, get in here!

Here, take a look at him.

How is he?

- I gotta get Tolman.

I gotta get somebody to take him to the morgue.

- Last one for the road.

- Better lay off the juice, Doc.

Still a few details I wanna go over.

- Just don't you worry about my drinking, old buddy.

I can handle it.

I understand everything that's going on just as clear as.

Listen, on top of the coffin you'll find a sheet.

It's a white sheet commonly known as a shroud.

Now, when you get in the coffin,

pull that right up over your head.

Now that's very, very important.

Oh, oh, look here.

I've got something for ya.

I got ya tobacco

and matches and chocolate.

It's a gift from my little granddaughter.

- Doc, Doc!

Why can't you listen to me, just once!

You're drunk!

Doc, you know what you're doing?

You're finishing it off for me.

Doc, look, you think I'd kill that guy, huh?

Do you understand me?

- I understand.

- Come on, come on.

Get ahold of yourself.

Go down to your bunk and sleep it off, you understand?

I'll see you in the morning

when you dig me up, right?

- Right, right, right.

Now don't forget the shroud.

And there'll be plenty of air.

I'm gonna sleep.

Good luck, old buddy.

- All right, let's go.

Show up here as soon as it gets light,

you're on the burial detail.

- Hey, I never met a guy as careless as you in all my life,

leaving half the sheet out like that.

- Hey, and that lid ain't even nailed down, I'll fix that.

- How come a big, tough stick-up man like you

is scared of a dead man?

- You're talking real strong

with that garter on.

- Ah, get to work, all of ya, and you two stop arguing.

- Well, we're not arguing, officer.

We're just exchanging notions.

- I don't see what difference the nails make anyway,

the guy inside ain't going anywhere.

All right, let's go.

- All right, take it easy

on that end, quit shoving.

- Come on, come on.

- What'd they fill this box with, kitchen leftovers?

* Oh, the head bone's getting unconnected from the elbow *

* The elbow's getting *

- Ah, are you complaining again?

- Man, this guy's been complaining

since the time he was born.

You know something, he even complained

about getting sent to prison.

- Oh, come on, come on, let's go.

Move!

- I know one thing, they took the vitamins

out of those beans last night.

I don't feel a thing this morning.

- Man, you've been using up

all your energy doing too much talking.

- All right, here we go.

Heave!

Heave!

Heave!

Heave!

Heave!

- All right, let's get the shovels.

- All right, all right, that's enough.

Come on, let's go.

Now, let's get outta here.

- Only five minutes.

Seems like five hours.

Truck must be gone now.

Another 15, 20 minutes, I'll be outta here.

No point in burning up air, better breathe slowly.

Short breaths, yeah.

Should hear him now.

Shovels should be about a foot away.

Come on, Doc, get a move on.

Come on, Doc, faster, faster!

Come on, Doc, hurry!

I promise ya, Doc, I'll give you another 5,000,

another 10, another 20,000, Doc, just hurry!

Anything you want!

It's my fault.

Why was I so stupid as to trust him?

Captain's friend, I should have known.

No, I didn't, I didn't mean that, Doc.

I'm sorry, forgive me, forgive me, Doc.

Just hurry.

Doc, come on, hurry!

Please, Doc!

Come on, Doc!

Doc, hurry!

Please, Doc!

Doc!

Doc!

Doc.

Doc.

- That concludes this evening's story.

Next week I hope to being you another one,

previews of which follow the next commercial, which I'll--