Caged Page #6

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I'm going to put you in solitary

for three days.

All I wanted was the kitten.

Three days?

Those are my orders.

My room.

No, Evy. No!

Do like I said.

If Benton ever finds out...

Shut up.

- Marie Allen, three days.

- I'm taking Kitty Stark back.

You better have the doctor see her

before Benton does.

She looks stir-bugs to me.

I'll take her over to the infirmary.

Nothing to be scared about.

Being alone isn't so tough,

and bread and water never killed anyone.

Maybe I'll sleep for three days.

Stop thinking about it. It'll grow back.

Let me out of here!

I'll do anything you want!

Oh, God! Let me out. Let me out.

Please, please, please!

That's what you think!

Don't leave. I want you to hear this.

Send a wire to the Commissioner.

Demand that you immediately dismiss

Matron Evelyn Harper.

Inmate in serious condition of shock

due to clipping of hair.

Harper repeatedly ordered

to discontinue these barbarous practices.

Insubordination reflects on my position

and the health and well-being

of the inmates.

I'd count 10 before you sent that.

Benton sure means business.

Medford, 5342.

I can't afford to lose my job, Evy.

I got debts.

Shut up.

Yes.

I want to speak

to Thornton Goodrich, please.

Tell him Evelyn Harper.

Yes, ma 'am.

We're sort of distant cousins, you know,

Thornton and me.

Good morning.

Happy New Year, Thornton. How are you?

Oh, just fine, thanks.

I got something you ought to know.

Oh, I couldn't tell you over the phone,

but it's dynamite.

Those filthy lies!

But at least it's nice to know

we have the support of so many people.

Three welfare leagues,

a half a dozen women's clubs

from all over the country.

If they'd only get together

and stick together,

then maybe situations like this

wouldn't arise.

You can just bet

the others have organization.

And they won't stop there.

What are you going to do?

I'll know better

after I talk to the Commissioner.

They're sitting outside looking so smug.

Send them in.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioner.

Won't you sit down?

I think there are ashtrays handy.

The Governor's madder

than a turkey gobbler.

Everyone's on my neck

because of what you've done.

Aren't you confused, Commissioner?

It wasn't I who gave

those ridiculous stories to the papers.

What's the idea getting Harper sore

over nothing at all?

I suppose a man would call

the clipping of a girl's hair nothing at all.

Well, you could have talked it over

with her instead of flying off the handle.

The Commissioner means,

your predecessor

never quarreled with the staff.

My predecessor refused

to regard criminals as human beings.

I've tried to change that attitude.

I intend to keep on trying.

There is no place on my staff

for matrons like Evelyn Harper.

It's too bad all this had to happen

before she was fired.

Who said anything about firing her?

Why fire a political appointee

just because of a minor difference

between you and her?

Besides, firing her won't do us any good.

It's this stink we've got to squelch.

How do you intend doing that?

I can get Harper to take back

what she said.

She can call it a mistake,

admit that she was hot-headed.

The directives, Sam.

Well, I'm coming to that.

At the same time, we'll announce

that these directives are to be put

into effect immediately.

Directives?

The Commissioner has put it

in the form of a memo to you.

"Inmates who have been honor women

will no longer be put

"in subordinate positions on the staff.

"The proposed plan to allow

occasional work outside the prison

"when merited by selected girls is denied

"as well as the proposed plan

for educational..."

You don't honestly think

I'd consent to that?

Why, I'd be betraying

every man and woman

working to free prisons

from methods like yours,

to insulate them from the abuses

of politicians, cheap politicians.

Have respect for my position, Mrs. Benton.

I wouldn't allow the Governor

to speak to me like that!

Oh, Fred, Mrs. Benton,

let's not lose our tempers.

Look, we came here

with the best intentions in the world,

hoping to get together with you,

to let this thing all blow over,

but you leave me with no alternative,

except to ask for your resignation.

If he asks for my resignation,

I'll demand a public hearing.

Now, just see here. We can get together.

We can if you tear up those directives

and fire Evelyn Harper.

That will clear my name

and allow me to do the work

that must be done around here.

He'll do nothing of the kind.

Then I'll announce

you've asked for my resignation,

and I'll demand a public hearing.

The State allows me such a hearing,

and you know it.

Let the public learn how this prison is run.

Fire me, Commissioner. I insist on it.

I want that public hearing.

Marie Allen, back from the hospital.

Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it!

Peggy Elkins.

Naomi Bates.

Honest, sometimes

I wish that old lady of mine

- would stop writing me.

- Julie Klein.

- "I sure wish you could be out by Easter...

- Tammy Slovo.

"...so you could see your kid brother...

- "...graduate from high school."

- Thelma Graham.

She must think I'm in a country club,

- taking a rest cure.

- Ruth Cardnum.

- I got news for her.

- Nina Christiansen.

My kid brother's gonna get graduated

without me.

Mimi Fuller.

Judas Priest!

Mary O'Connor.

Arlene Sidney.

Evelyn Mason.

Alma Jones.

Mary Adams.

Luana Cohen.

Gee, look how she looks.

- Guess you'd look that way, too...

- Tracy Swanson.

...if you had a week in solitary.

- Yeah, and almost a month in pogey.

- Helga Jorgensen.

I didn't know what kind of a heel Harper is.

She's like a cop I was sweet on once.

He used to work guys over

for no reason at all,

just because it made him feel important.

If I'd known,

I wouldn't have started on you.

Quit shaking the tambourine.

I'll be sprung soon.

You'll run the cage again.

If I can do anything for you,

try to get your rap shortened...

What did you say?

- Wagner, Rita.

- Devlin, Claire.

- Minnelli, Nina.

- Barber, Emma.

- Menard, Tina.

- Cassidy, Katie.

Bates, Naomi.

Don't be smart. Let's have the name.

Stark, Kitty.

Taylor, Alice.

- Allen, Marie.

- Mullen, Elaine.

Okay, dummy, if you can't hold that cup,

get back to the bullpen.

Feed your faces and keep your traps shut

if you don't want to get...

Kill her! Kill her! Kill her! Kill her!

Kindly omit flowers.

Sunday. Nothing for me to do

except think about the next 10 years.

Here today, here tomorrow.

What's your itch?

Oh, I keep thinking of Kitty

sitting in the death house, and I get...

Take it easy before you blow a tube.

You got to hand it to Benton.

Even with all her trouble,

she tried to keep Kitty off the hot seat.

Yeah, she kept telling them

Kitty was off her trolley.

Boy, what's going on in Benton's office!

There's six matrons spilling over

and a bunch of girls

from the other bullpens.

- What did you tell Benton?

- I shot the works.

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