Birdman of Alcatraz

1

You will see all the

man-made and natural beauties

of the most spectacular bay in the world.

You'll pass beneath

the famous Golden Gate Bridge,

considered to be one of the most

striking structures ever erected by man.

From the bay, you will thrill

to the magnificent San Francisco skyline.

Your cruise ship, the Harbour King,

will circle Alcatraz,

a maximum-security prison containing

the most dangerous criminals in America,

and has been the home of such

notorious figures as Al Capone,

Baby Face Nelson

and Machine Gun Kelly.

That's the island of Alcatraz.

There's a man leaving there today

after 17 years' imprisonment.

His name is Robert Stroud.

He's spent most of his life behind bars,

including 43 years

in solitary confinement.

He has never used a telephone

or driven an automobile.

The last time he broke bread

with another human being was in 1916,

the year Kaiser Wilhelm ordered the

sinking of the Lusitania in World War I.

My name is Tom Gaddis.

I wrote a book about this man.

Our story

properly begins in the year 1912.

A cargo of rebellious prisoners

was being transferred

from the federal penitentiary at McNeil

Island, Washington, to The Big Top,

the name given by convicts

to the prison at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Shut up!

Make one more move

and I'll take you off at the neck.

Robert F Stroud.

Breaking that window

was a serious offence.

It was hot. I was thinking of my lungs.

Did you think about the consequences?

You might have started a riot.

- Even a convict's got a right to breathe.

- Rights?

I don't think you know

the meaning of the word.

In 1909, in Alaska, you appointed yourself

judge, jury and executioner

and killed one... Charles Dahmer

because he allegedly beat up a friend

named Katie Malone... a prostitute.

You were transferred here to Leavenworth

because of an inferior record.

Now, I propose to give you a fresh start.

Such rights as you will enjoy are listed

here in my rules and regulations.

There are 86.

I suggest you memorise them.

I know 'em. They're the same in all pens.

They tell you when to eat,

when to sleep, when to go to the privy.

Precisely. And what you'll do

for every minute 24 hours a day.

You're going to be here

for nine long years, Stroud.

So with or without your cooperation,

I intend to make a man of you,

before you check out these gates.

You'll conform to our ideas

of how you should behave.

You'll learn the lesson now

or five years from now, but you'll learn.

For breaking that train window, all your

privileges are suspended for 30 days.

That's all, Mr Ransom.

Let's go.

You're one of the new fish

from McNeil, huh?

Yeah.

Yeah, well, I'm Tony Qualen.

Who are you?

Stroud.

You're lucky to be in this cellblock.

Boss here's a friend of mine.

Picture of your mother?

Put it back.

Put it back!

What did I do?

Just don't touch it again.

You know the guy

you're bunking with? Anthony?

Understand you and him

had a little misunderstanding.

Anthony is a friend of mine.

A very good friend.

He didn't mean nothin',

pickin' up the picture.

Beat it.

What kind of nut are you anyway? Just

because he picked up a picture of Mama?

Break it up!

Stroud! Stroud!

You ever mention

my mother again, I'll kill ya!

Stroud.

What's the matter, man?

What's eating you up inside, Bob?

You act as though you hate everyone.

You live in a pus-hole,

you act accordingly.

All right, Bob. Maybe 30 days in the hole'll

make you happy to see a face again.

Don't count on it... Harvey.

I don't think 30 days in the hole

is gonna cool that jaybird off, Warden.

Now, what do you suggest, Mr Kramer?

He's as mean as a boar hog.

If it was me, I'd keep him away from

the rest of the inmates permanently.

Isolation? No.

I don't give up on a man that easily.

Stroud comes from good stock.

He'll shape up.

He's a dingbat, Warden.

He's dangerous.

He's my responsibility, Mr Kramer.

Now, you let me worry

about his behaviour.

Yes, sir.

All right, Stroud.

Dearest Mother. I am feeling fine.

Hope you are the same.

Everything is OK at this end.

Time sure does fly.

Yesterday was

my fourth anniversary here,

but I got no cake. Ha-ha.

I guess everything would be all right

if I could just see you

and give you a great big hug.

I hope your cold is better.

Your loving son, Robbie.

Dearest Robbie.

I was here today to see you,

but they would not let me in,

it being Saturday,

with no visiting allowed.

But I saw Warden Shoemaker,

and he was kind enough

to arrange for a visit next Friday.

Until then, my darling,

this little gift of fruit comes

with all my love. Mother.

Guard, guard! Mr Kramer!

- What do you want?

- Did you know my mother was here?

- Yeah.

- Why didn't you call me?

You know the rules.

No visitors on Saturday.

That all you got in you? Rules?

Stop bellyaching. She said she'd be

here next week. You can see her then.

You ain't got much,

but you keep subtracting from it.

Don't you know I gotta put you

on report for touching a guard?

Mr Kramer...

If you shoot me on report,

I won't get no visit from my mother.

You should have thought of that before.

She came 2,000 miles.

All the way from Alaska.

Do me this one favour.

I just follow the rules.

Now get back to your seat.

- I tell you, I got to see her.

- And I told you to get back to your seat.

You ain't a man, Kramer. You're dog puke.

I just came from Kramer's widow.

I couldn't look her in the eye, Stroud.

I feel responsible for her husband's death.

He warned me about you.

He told me you were dangerous,

but I wouldn't listen.

And how he's cold in his grave.

You've taken the lives of two people

and haven't felt a twinge of conscience.

What do you want me to do?

Cry? Say I'm sorry?

I'm only sorry for Kramer's wife.

- And the dead man?

- He was fixing to brain me with his club.

I protected myself.

No remorse, huh?

No pity. Just an animal.

Ain't that what these cages are for?

Animals?

I have to make out a report

about this killing.

I hope it'll help to hang you.

Stroud had three trials.

The first one was declared a mistrial.

In the second, he was sentenced

to life imprisonment.

He appealed and was granted a third trial.

On June 28, 1918,

he heard the final verdict.

Therefore it is now by the court

considered, ordered and adjudged

that you be remanded to the custody of

the warden of Leavenworth penitentiary

and kept in solitary confinement there

until the 8th day of November, 1918,

and then and there be hanged

by the neck until you are dead.

No!

This sentence is unspeakable!

You call this justice?

You don't even know

the meaning of the word, sir.

Forget it. It's "Katy bar the door" for me.

I'm done.

Sit down, Robbie.

Sit down.

Look, Ma, you fought,

you spent all your money,

you got old followin' me from jail to jail.

It's time to douse the lights.

I told you before, Robbie,

I will not let them kill you.

I'm going to Washington DC very soon.

- I haven't begun to fight.

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