Dead Man Walking Page #6

Yeah, well, my kid needed

to hold her daddy's hand.

If you don't like it, find another

lawyer to volunteer his time.

People reading these interviews

think you're a nut.

Admiring Hitler, wanting to come back

as a terrorist and blow people up?

I said government buildings,

not people.

Bombing a building won't hurt people?

I ain't got no love

for the government is all.

You're a fool. You are making it

so easy for them to kill you.

Coming across as some crazed animal...

...Nazi, racist mad dog

who deserves to die.

- Is that what you think?

- You're making it so hard to help you.

You can leave.

I'm not gonna do that.

It's up to you.

You want me to go, you say so.

- Do you ever think about those kids?

- It's terrible what happened.

Especially since it didn't

have to happen.

Do you ever think about what

you did to their parents' lives?

It's hard to have sympathy for them...

- ...when they're trying to kill me.

- Think about it.

Their kids are shot, stabbed, raped...

...left in the woods to die alone.

How'd you feel if somebody

did that to your family?

- What would you do to them?

- I'd sure as hell want to kill them.

I understand them, but they're

calling for the wrong head.

I want to take a lie detector test.

I know it won't change

them guys' minds...

...but I want my mama to know

I didn't kill any kids.

The boy's good!

Go.

- Hey, y'all. Having a party.

- Hey.

Palmer.

- Herbie, how's your side feeling?

- Okay.

- Yeah? Kenitra, how are you doing?

- Fine.

Come on, Kenitra, let's go.

Bye-bye.

Wait a minute, what happened?

There's talk in the neighborhood...

...of Poncelet's racist comments.

Your name was in the article.

Oh, Lord.

The learning center also misses you.

They think you care more

about him than your classes.

- Colleen, I'm so sorry.

- It's all right. I still love you.

I just thought you should know.

Oh!

Got this at Goodwill.

Talked to Bishop Norwich.

He said he would say the funeral mass.

Also found a funeral home

willing to donate their services.

The leaders of the congregation met.

We can use one of our burial plots.

If Matt dies...

...guess who he'll be buried next to?

- Who was the last person to die?

- Sister Celestine.

Oh, Lord.

Remember when that girl

came to the convent...

...to introduce her husband to us?

Celestine said, "I'm glad I won't

have to share my bed with a man."

- She loved her celibacy so much.

- And now...

She's gonna be lying next to a man

for all eternity.

My daughter's killer can possibly

get out on parole in another year--

Recently, my wife and I went

to the sheriff's office--

I just can't bear the thought

of him being out, a free man...

...and her buried in the ground

and dead forever.

"Don't know nothing

about these-- "

-- was killed

by her ex-husband, you know.

-- stabbed to death in our back yard

by my son's best friend.

He'd spent the night at our house and

gone to church with us that morning.

I lost my child--

Her little skiing outfit

is still in the closet.

When our child was killed, it took

over a week to find her body.

-- staring out the window.

The D A's office treated us

like we were the criminals.

My wife...

...filed for divorce this afternoon.

We just have different ways

of dealing with our son's death.

"Until death do us part."

We're nothing special.

Most folks that lose a kid split up.

Seventy percent or something.

I just wish I could laugh,

find something funny.

This is my car.

Thanks for inviting me, Mr. Delacroix.

You take care, Sister.

Good night.

What the f*** you doing?

What you doing?

Raise your arms.

Go ahead.

Have a seat in that chair.

Like my new digs?

Hi.

I'm pretty special, huh?

I'm pretty special.

Have this place all to myself.

They got like 10 guards guarding me.

One guy comes every 15 minutes

to see if I killed myself.

Suicide watch.

Suicide watch.

Never had so many people

caring about what I was doing.

When did they bring you here?

Last night.

Late.

Didn't get to say goodbye

to most of the guys on the row.

Did you take care of that

lie detector test yet?

I made some calls,

but I haven't had any luck yet.

So this is the end, huh?

My death house vacation.

Three days of quiet.

Plenty of time to read my Bible.

Look for a loophole.

Look for a loophole.

Did you read anything

about Jesus in that Bible?

Holy Man. Did good. In heaven.

Praise Jesus.

There are some passages in there...

...about when Jesus

was facing death alone...

...that you might want to check out.

Me and Jesus have a different way

of doing things.

He's one of them

turn-the-other-cheek guys.

It takes a lot of strength

to turn the other cheek.

You say you like rebels.

What do you think Jesus was?

- He wasn't no rebel.

- Sure He was. He was a dangerous man.

- "Love your brother" is dangerous?

- Because His love changed things.

His love changed things.

The people nobody cared about: the

prostitutes, the beggars, the poor.

They finally had somebody

who respected them, loved them...

...made them realize their own worth.

They had dignity and became powerful.

The guys on the top got real nervous.

So they had to kill Jesus.

Kind of like me, huh?

No, Matt, not--

Not at all like you.

He changed the world with His love.

You watched as two kids were murdered.

Step back from the door, Sister.

Why? What's happening?

Move it on out, boy.

What's this now?

What's this?

He'll be an hour.

Why don't you get some air?

- Where are they taking him?

- I can't tell you.

Sister Helen?

Chaplain Farley called from the gate.

- He'll be right here.

- Thank you.

Sergeant Trapp?

How long do you think that

big old tree's been standing there?

Ma'am, there ain't no telling.

Saw you outside the gates the other

night at Purcell's execution.

Yeah?

You seemed upset.

Upset? No.

- You in the room when they did it?

- I'm on the strap- down team, left leg.

That's my job. The left leg.

I take the prisoner from his cell

to the execution chamber.

Wow, that's gotta be tough.

It's hard.

I didn't sleep that night.

I think it's gotta affect

everybody that sees it...

...whether they're for it or against.

It's just part of the job.

These prisoners gets

what's coming to them.

It's easy for someone

to come and make...

...a rash judgement on procedure.

What may appear on the surface

to be irrational or unnecessary...

...proves upon examination

to have solid reasoning...

...and experience behind it.

All I'm asking is to play a hymn

for Matt before his execution.

And experience tells us

that music stirs up emotion.

Emotion that can produce

an unexpected reaction in the inmate.

All right.

Do you have any objection to my asking

the warden for his opinion?

I would oppose it,

but you may if you like.

Thank you.

And thank you for your time.

I hear you were protesting outside

the gates during the last execution.

- Yes.

- You familiar with the Old Testament?

"Thou shalt not kill."

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