Canon City Page #2

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Take Johnson, for instance--

the boat builder.

For months,

he's been hoping.

For weeks, planning.

And now, he's decided to put

those plans into operation.

It's just a matter

of brains and of guts,

and of a lot of scheming

and a little luck.

Hi, Charlie.

Oh, hello, Willie.

Hi, Harry.

Nice weather

for December.

Yeah, don't you just

love the climate here?

Got any souvenirs?

Yeah.

Faith.

Hope.

This one's

for charity.

They tell me you've

got a load for me.

Yeah.

Take this

control panel

down to the desk

sergeant's office.

I've got orders to

install it this afternoon.

Nice work.

(narrator)

Sure, they can put you behind bars.

Sure, they can

set men to watch you,

men with tear-gas billies

and guns.

Sure, they can shove

you around

and stick a number on you

and make you

walk with your arms folded,

but they can't keep you

from having buddies,

like New, a sharp little guy

who'll try anything

and always

knows the score.

And there are others--

a fighting dozen of them.

Warden Best,

with his big hat

and his dogs

and his tough guards.

There are always ways,

if a man uses his head,

and if he picks his pals.

So much for those

who plot and plan.

Modern prison science

follows the doctrine

that besides work, man--

even man in prison--

must have recreation.

Once a week, a movie is

shown in the auditorium,

selected, of course,

and properly approved,

but something of the outside

world, nevertheless--

something to be thought over

and remembered

and discussed

during the coming week.

(dramatic music)

I found the one-reeler.

Ah, just in time.

The feature's

just beginning.

Look, I know

how you feel

about what

I told you, but--

I don't want

any part of it.

Okay, if you want to

rot in this joint,

that's your business,

but that doesn't mean

you can't help us out.

I've got some stuff

hidden in my cell

that I've

got to get rid of

for the time being.

I won't touch it.

I counted on you

as a friend, kid.

Look, I told you,

I don't want to get

mixed up in anything.

Now, keep away from me,

will ya?

Beat it!

(upbeat music)

What'd he say?

No dice.

The date's been set.

We go the 30th.

Sure.

We need that guy.

He's got the one spot where

the hitters will be safe.

Why don't you talk to him?

I will.

Stop worrying.

He'll be with us.

I'm in on the break.

Yeah?

How do you feel

about it by now?

I haven't changed.

You can't get away

with it.

Seconds?

Yeah, more corn.

What you got to lose?

You're doing life.

Look, you don't need me.

We've got a special

job for you.

I might be paroled

in a few years.

Don't be a mug.

You killed a copper.

I've got a date

in your department

this afternoon.

Be seeing you then.

I understand you have

a loose connection

in the darkroom.

That's right.

Is it okay

to go in?

Wait a minute.

(knocking)

Is it all right

to open the door?

(Sherbondy)

Yeah.

Where's your trouble?

Fuse box.

You can turn

the lights on.

Quite a nice little set-up

you've got here.

Quiet,

probably lonesome.

With the clean record

you've built up,

they leave you pretty

much alone, don't they?

I get along.

I mind my own business.

Lone wolf.

It doesn't pay.

That's why they say,

in jail, you should

work together.

Okay, it's fixed.

Just burned out.

The whole building

needs going over.

All right to turn

the lights out now?

I want to load

some film.

Okay.

Use your head, kid.

A man would better

be dead

than locked up

all his life.

Come on,

straighten up a little.

(dramatic music)

(narrator)

Yes, Sherbondy, a special job for you.

You're in this, whether you

like it or not.

They need you.

You control the best hiding

place in the prison.

No one can enter the darkroom

without knocking,

not even the guards.

Might spoil a batch

of prints

or X-ray negatives.

The officers trust you,

would never suspect you of

hiding murder weapons.

Yes, Sherbondy,

you've been taken.

(knocking)

Sherbondy,

we want to come in.

Oh, uh-- uh,

just a minute,

till I put these prints

away, will ya?

(suspenseful music)

Okay.

Is that X-ray film

ready yet?

Oh, uh, yeah,

yeah, I think so.

Here you are, Joe.

Yeah,

the doc wants it.

If you think I'll dummy up

on a rap like this,

you're crazy.

Call a screw.

Tell them they'd come

to plant it on you.

Would he believe you?

Would the warden?

No, he'd stick you

in a hole from now on.

How do you know

those guns will shoot?

I'd stake my life on it.

Besides, we'll grab

tear-gas guns

from the guards.

They take

a 12-gauge shell.

Then we'll hail

when we go.

When we go.

When's that?

The 30th.

How do you expect to

get through the gate?

It's all doped out.

Relax, Jimmy.

We'll tip you off

when it's time to pack

your weekend bag.

(dramatic music)

How's the kid, huh?

How's Bob?

Is he okay?

He's well.

Look, I shot this

last Sunday.

Gee, he looks bigger.

He is.

I never saw a child

grow so fast.

Honey, he takes after you

more and more every day.

You mean, he--

Oh, no.

Aw, the little

son of a gun.

Gee, Billy, it's good

to see you again.

Three years.

Keep it down.

I got the message

you sent

by that guy who was

paroled last month.

Yeah?

I did everything

he told me.

You didn't use

your real name?

No, no, a phony.

Good.

Like you said I should.

He said everything had to

be ready by the 30th.

Don't mention

that date in here.

But why?

Shh!

Mrs. Wilson?

Yes?

The captain would like

to see you a minute

before you

have your visit.

What's the matter?

Is anything wrong?

Well, I don't know.

He'll tell you

all about it.

This way, please.

You're a smart kid, May.

Just lay low and wait.

I'll be seeing you

on the outside.

But, Billy, you've got two

more years to go in here.

Look, I can't talk now,

but there's a deal

coming off,

and I'm gonna

cut in on it.

Don't take any chances.

Forget it.

Talk about

something else.

Say, uh, how's

your old lady?

Oh, she's swell.

You understand,

Mrs. Wilson,

what I told you

about your brother

is for his own good.

Yes, of course.

You tell him

what I said,

but put it

in your own way.

You may save the boy

a lot of trouble.

I understand.

I'll talk to him.

Thank you very much,

captain.

It's all right.

You can see him now.

I'll send him in.

The captain spoke well

of you, Jimmy.

He says you have

a clean record so far

and that you're doing

a good job

in the projection booth

and in the darkroom too.

But I think

there's one thing

you might have forgotten.

(Jimmy)

What's that?

You kept bad company

when you were a kid, Jimmy,

and that's why you're here.

That sort of thing

can happen to you

on the inside

as well as on the outside.

He says you're keeping

bad company again.

What did he mean by that?

He meant you've--

you've made

the wrong kind of

friends in prison.

You've got to be careful,

Jimmy.

Don't forget,

you're doing

time for murder.

The fact that you were 17

when you were sentenced

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