Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison Page #5

You seem to forget that once in a while.

It's a bad habit, Mr. Benson.

- Hey Pete, I've been looking for you.

Where you been? - To school.

They carry your books?

- What you study today?

- Home economics.

That's all about marriage.

That's what you ought to do, get married.

Me, give up my freedom?

You're crazy.

We missed you since

you got transferred, Red.

Hey, that's neat.

- The air from the vent makes it go round.

- That's neat, what you got it for?

Something to look at

when I'm trying to sleep.

What are you holed up in here for, Red.

I don't feel right.

Know what day this is?

The Placerville Tigers are

playing our team this afternoon.

You ought to be sitting on top of the world,

the break you got the other day.

You know if Ferretti had made it,

they'd have dropped the axe on you.

- What's the matter with you anyway?

- Nothing.

You sure?

I turned Ferretti in.

- What are you talking about?

- I turned him in.

I spotted him behind

the seat in the cab.

I didn't know what to do, Chuck.

I thought of my parole,

my wife and kids.

I had to do it.

- Does Ferretti know?

- No.

- Who does?

- Rickey, Benson.

Half a dozen guards, you.

Ferretti knew that if he did make it,

you'd take the rap.

That's like sneaking up behind a guy in

the dark and sticking a knife in his back.

The other cons won't see it that way.

They believe what

they read about themselves.

The cons don't talk.

70% of the prisoners in every

stir I've ever been in

squeal on each other all the time.

That's the code of the underworld.

Try to make 'em believe that.

- To them I'll be a stool pigeon.

- But not to me Red.

You're the kind of a guy

I'd tie to every time.

Didn't I take you in on this

break I've been planning for years.

You're the first guy I told about it.

If it wasn't for your parole

you'd be going with us when we go.

Now come on.

Let's go out and watch that game.

Hey Jennings, look what you drew.

- Well Tinker, you ain't been down here

in a long time. - Have you missed me?

They sent him down to do that

plumbing job you've been griping about.

It's about time.

How would this place ever operate

without my guiding hand?

Get in there.

Call me when you're though with him.

- Right.

- For nine, Tinker.

Got a leaky waste trap in this one.

Can you fix it?

A guy who can pick a lock

can fix most anything.

See if you can pick that one.

Sing out when you've finished.

How long they going to keep you

down here?

I'll be lucky if I ever get out of here.

Nick, how come you got caught?

Pardue turned me in.

- Pardue?

- No kidding.

I didn't know anything about it

till a couple of days ago.

Pardue...

Why that doesn't seem possible.

I didn't think he knew I was

in the truck. He must have got wise.

You see I got a friend

in the Captain's office.

One of the con clerks.

He figured out a way

to tip me off.

Want me to spread the word in the yard.

That would fix him good.

No, no.

Daniels would cover up for him.

Yeah, I guess he would at that.

Look, Tinker.

I got close to 300

on the prison books.

You stop Pardue from going out

and it's yours.

Have it sent any way you say.

You know I've got

good connections outside.

They can't help me because

I'm in on murder first.

They could spring you out for parole,

it'd be a cinch.

Accidents happen all the time.

What about it Tinker?

What about it?

Hey Jennings, the job's done.

Let me out of here.

300 bucks, Tinker.

And a sure fire rain-check for you.

You'll have to stand still, Red.

- if you expect me to get this thing right.

- You know what this means don't you?

- I do.

- You'll be going out tomorrow.

But don't worry,

I'll have it ready for you.

It means my wife is going to

see me for the first time in five years.

Without a prison uniform.

She's coming up to get me.

What's the matter?

Don't you think you can find the way home?

She'll wear a new dress,

blue like her eyes.

She'll straighten my tie and say...

Red you big lug.

And then she won't be able to talk,

and neither will I.

- Red, Noonan wants you over

in the quarry, come on. - I'm coming.

- My last job before I sign out.

- Right.

Tell the Sarge we're all ready to blast.

It's all wired except this hole.

Right.

Everybody stand clear!

All clear?

All clear!

Keep your head down.

- What's the matter?

- Flying piece of rock got me.

I told you to keep your head down.

Dobie here got hit,

he had to see the fireworks.

Go tell Officer Brock

to take you into the doctor's.

- How did it go?

- Not so good.

One side didn't blow at all,

must be a break in the cable.

It's old stuff, I'll find it.

- It's a break alright Sarge.

- Yes.

Looks like we've got a jinx on this job.

Hurry it up, Red.

That explosion's got Red!

It wasn't my fault.

- He kept yanking on the wire.

- Why didn't you stop him?

I started to. He gave it another yank

and it slipped over and made contact.

I tried to grab it but it was too late.

He did it himself.

I couldn't help it.

I never had no trouble with Red.

I was no friend of Ferretti's either.

So you knew about that, huh?

OK Tinker, OK.

Come in.

Mrs. Pardue, Mr. Benson.

I remember you, you gave me

a ride to the prison, didn't you?

That's right.

This isn't my office, but I had you

brought here so we wouldn't be disturbed.

It's about your husband, Red.

Won't you sit down.

What's the matter, Captain Benson?

Has Red done something wrong?

You're not keeping him in here

any longer are you?

Is he hurt?

Tell me.

I'm going to tell you, Mrs. Pardue.

I'm going to tell you

exactly what happened.

Well Benson, what's new?

I've just finished telling Red Pardue's wife

that he's going out today.

What's that?

- In a box.

- Oh, I see.

How did she take it?

In a way you wouldn't understand.

You see...

- She loved him.

- You told her it was an accident, of course.

I told her it was murder!

What do you mean, murder?

We couldn't prove that

in a thousand years.

I told her you killed him, Warden.

You wouldn't dare say that.

When you sent that man

back to the yard

you knew that sooner or later the men

inside would find out what had happened.

- That was a chance he had to take.

- The chance you made him take.

In your twisted mind

a convicted man is no longer human.

He's a thing to be kicked around,

to be thrown away.

That's how you show your courage.

By stepping on men

who can't strike back.

Why you phony reformer!

You're all worked up, Captain

or you wouldn't say such things.

I face these cons, thieves, murderers.

Alone, unarmed.

That's why they have respect for me.

They hate you Rickey.

They despise you.

Maybe, but not to my face.

I had you figured right, Benson.

Your psychology is

just another name for weakness.

It takes guts to run a prison.

No, it takes brains.

Brains and understanding.

- And all you have is beef.

- Don't you talk that way to me.

Listen, I've got news for you.

From now on

I run this prison my way.

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