Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Page #4

That's one department

I want you to keep your hands off.

Is that clear?

- It's quite clear.

- OK, forget it.

What's for breakfast this morning?

Same old slop,

veg, mush, skim milk and black coffee.

- Want to see us Captain.

- Yes, I did.

Sergeant, how can prisoners respect men

who have no respect for their own appearance?

From now on the officers of the guard line

will report for duty

in uniforms that are at least clean.

And will conduct themselves

like officers.

Not like thugs.

- Yes, Sir.

- Stewart!

If a pure food inspector was

shown through the prison canning plant

he'd have apoplexy.

The place reeks of filth.

As for discipline,

the workers are either bullied by

the guards or left to do as they please.

The same thing applies

to all the shops.

- Clean 'em up!

- Yes, Sir.

Also I want that "Silence" sign

taken out of the mess hall.

Let the men talk whilst they eat.

And as off today,

we're taking beans off the prison menu.

How can you run a prison without beans?

Beans are a good wholesome food.

They might be

if they weren't spoiled.

According to the record 10 barrels

of rejected food, mostly beans

were thrown to the ranch hogs,

last week.

- Is that right, Stewart?

- Yes Sir.

But what am I going to feed 'em

if I can't feed 'em beans?

Feed 'em the ranch hogs.

Then they'll get the beans

in a more palatable form.

- Dont you ever feed meat to the inmates?

- Sometimes.

Make it three times a week.

What do they get for dessert?

Each man gets a pint of ice cream

every fourth of July.

Give 'em a pint every Sunday.

We've got a dairy herd on the ranch.

Put the milk to work.

That's all Stewart,

oh, and don't forget...

- Meat for dinner.

- Meat!

Will that be all, Mr. Benson.

That's all, Sergeant.

- What's so funny?

- I've been reading your file card.

That's quite a score, Chuck.

You've crashed the walls of more

jail houses than any man in the country.

What would you do

if you were serving a life sentence?

I'm afraid my answer

might incriminate me.

Besides, I'm on the opposing team.

How do you like it in here?

Not so good, the joint's

full of suspicious characters.

You're due to go out

pretty soon, aren't you Red?

127 days, 12 hours,

31 minutes, 11 seconds.

You can see he hasn't

given it much thought.

- I see by your file you were a licensed

dynamite man outside. - That's right.

I've got a friend in Redwood City

in the lumber business.

I think I can get you a job with him.

- Come in and see me in a couple of days.

- Thanks Captain, I will.

So long, fellows.

Not a bad guy.

Your move.

Say, Mr. Benson,

Yes, Tinker?

- That's Tinker, not Stinker.

- That's what I said.

- I'd like to talk to you about

getting out of here. - Alright.

You know I'm... I'm not a confirmed

criminal like the rest of the guys in here.

I should be on the outside.

Maybe you're right at that.

You'd probably do more good for the law

outside than you would inside.

Yeah, that's what I've been

trying to tell everybody.

I bet you could keep at least

ten policeman working all the time.

Yeah.

All men called for the quarry detail

answer to your names.

- McCain - Here!

- Ryan... Masters... White

Pardue... Tinker!

Here, present, here I am.

- Got a light?

- No!

Ferretti...

Daniels... White

Let's go.

OK.

Alright, come on!

We're going to follow that big edge

up there. Check it out and go ahead with the wires.

You fellows follow with those cases.

Here's yours Tinker.

Walk easy, Tinker.

- What's the set-up here?

- Pardue's top powder man.

That was his job on the outside.

We help him, come on.

Say Nick,

what's in this?

Nitro...

- What's that?

- Dynamite.

Dynamite?

Hey, watch out for blasts!

Hey, if anything happens to me

I'm going to quit this job.

- What do you want?

- This is 60% dynamite, Sarge.

If we use this stuff

it'll shatter the rock.

- The case is marked 40.

- Must have used the wrong stencil.

- We've got three other cases.

- They're all the same, 60.

The powder company

doesn't deliver till tomorrow.

- Can't you borrow some in town.

- Yeah we might.

Put the cover back on that case, Chuck.

While you're about it you better get

some no. 6 and no. 8 detonator caps.

- We're running short.

- OK.

I'll have to send you in with

the pick-up truck to handle the stuff.

Tinker, Freddy, get back to your drilling.

- You heard what he said.

- Yeah, I heard him.

- Hey, where you going?

- I've got a date.

With a guy named Freddy.

Pardue's a licensed dynamite man, Captain.

It's safer to let him handle it.

Yes Sir, I have a guard I can spare.

You go with him Michaels,

get the pick-up truck at the garage.

Here's an order for the keys.

Stop at the Captain's office on your way out

and pick up a pass for Pardue.

I'll phone. the stuff'll be ready

by the time you reach town.

- Where you bound for?

- Down to the village.

Alright.

OK.

Wait here a minute.

Want to phone the wife,

see if she wants anything in town.

Cover that truck.

OK Red, let's go.

Hold it Red, get away from there.

- What's the matter?

- I got word to shake this down again.

Alright, don't get nervous screw,

I'm getting out.

I know you are.

You can kiss that parole goodbye, Red.

- He didn't know anything about it. - I bet

he didn't. He was driving the truck, wasn't he.

Come on, inside, both of you.

I'd have done the same thing

in your place.

We got to face it Red,

there are no secrets in prison.

Even though the guards are

the only ones that know what happened

- the inmates are liable to figure out

that you... - Turned stool pigeon?

- I wouldn't put it that way.

- You're not a con.

That's just what I'm getting at.

Well...

Glad to see one of you cons

has a brain in his head.

This note you sent up to the tower

was one for the books.

Your mind really worked fast,

didn't it Red?

It had to, Warden.

I wonder what'd happen if I posted this

on the bulletin board out in the yard?

They'd turn on you

like a pack of wolves.

Now, you don't need to worry.

I told everybody that knows about it

to keep their mouths shut.

I think we owe Red

a vote of thanks.

Sure, sure.

I appreciate it.

Well, Michael's waiting for you

in the truck.

You go on into town,

get your dynamite.

Go right back to your job

as if nothing had happened.

Yes Sir.

You're not going to send him back to

the yard, to his old job?

Why not?

The cons know nothing about this.

They'll find out soon enough.

Ferretti was found in the truck.

They're liable to suspect Red.

Let me tell you something.

The minute I turn Red

out of his regular spot

every con in Folsom

will know he turned Ferretti in.

You didn't think of that did you?

You know why?

That's something you learn from

experience, not books on psychology.

He's going out in a few months.

We owe him protection.

I need him in my quarry.

Want me to play nursemaid to the guy?

I still think

you're risking his life.

And I say I'm still warden here.

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