Murder in the First Page #8

you'd never been with a woman before?

Henri, this is Blanche.

Blanche, this is Henri.

Nice to meet you, Henri.

You got about four minutes before

the next guard arrives, so you gotta hurry.

Now, I can't leave the room.

I'm just gonna be over here in this corner.

I'll turn my back.

We can get acquainted.

Come on, honey, we don't have all night.

Thanks, Jim.

You're a good friend.

Oh, boy.

- Um... Thanks. Hi, Charlie.

- Hey.

What's the story?

The attorney and a reporter inside

with the prisoner.

Is he shackled?

Yeah. Other than that,

everything's pretty quiet.

Sweetie, you have to get it up first.

That's like trying to stick an oyster

into a slot machine.

Give me that.

Oh. Aw, I... I ca...

- can't.

- You can.

- Yeah, you can.

- I can't. I'm sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

The 5 bucks you owe me.

- For what?

What, you didn't listen?

Louis knocks Nova out in the sixth round.

- That bum.

- Yeah, yeah. Give me the money.

- can't.

You can.

I can't. I can't. I can't.

- You can.

- can't.

Ados, Charlie.

All right, kid.

Oh, you know what?

It's gonna cost extra, you know.

Just do what you have to do.

I can't.

I'm sorry.

I can't.

Hey.

Hey, we only had a few minutes.

You got another guy in the room.

That's okay.

Hey. Shh.

Aw, shh, baby.

Hey. Shh.

Your Honor, the defense calls...

...associate warden, Mr. Milton Glenn.

Do you swear to tell the truth...

...and nothing but the truth?

- So help me God.

- You may be seated.

As associate warden, you are responsible

for the day-to-day running of the prison...

...are you not?

- You could say that.

You must be familiar with the dungeons.

Dungeons?

I'm sure you've heard of them.

Some prisoners refer to the lower levels

as dungeons.

They refer to bread and water

as piss and punk.

Mr. Glenn, the dictionary definition

of a dungeon is:

"A close, dark prison or vault,

commonly underground."

Now, the walls of those cells measure

- Would you call that close?

- As a matter of opinion, no.

- Are there any light fixtures?

- No, but there aren't any books.

Your Honor, the defense

offers these photographs...

...as defense exhibit B, C, D, E and F.

How much light comes in

with no window when the door is closed?

- Not much.

- How long was Henri held in such a cell?

I don't know exactly.

Three years and two months.

I have the records here, if you'd like to see.

- That sounds right.

- Three years and two months.

In that time, how often was Henri Young

allowed outside for exercise?

Mr. Stamphill, I do not believe that

the exercise time of an inmate is relevant.

Well, I do. Answer the question.

Objection.

- Objection overruled.

- Henri Young tried to escape.

Now, when a criminal escapes from prison,

he doesn't go job-hunting.

He robs somebody or kills somebody.

We do all we can to discourage escape.

In three years and two months, how often

was Henri allowed outside for exercise?

- do not believe men sentenced...

- Answer the question I'm asking.

How often was he allowed outside

for exercise?

Objection. Badgering the witness.

Objection overruled.

Mr. Glenn, you will answer that question.

Young man, I do not recall.

Heh. You don't know?

Surely a half hour a year

isn't too difficult to recall, now, is it?

Mr. Stamphill, there is no place

in my courtroom for sarcasm.

Sorry, Your Honor. Mr. Glenn,

I have here a list with 32 names on it.

Now, these are all men who were prisoners

at Alcatraz during your tenure. Correct?

I can't remember the name

of every prisoner.

I have committal papers

with your signature...

...as well as the late Dr. Wendell Kiley.

We'd like this to be marked

defense exhibit G.

All of these men were taken off Alcatraz

in straitjackets and placed in institutions.

- s that correct?

- Objection. The question is immaterial.

Immaterial? Your Honor, I'm saying in lay

terms that Alcatraz drives people insane.

It has already done so in 32 instances.

If not true, the witness ought to have

the opportunity to say so.

If it is true, it is most material...

...and the jury ought to be privy

to that knowledge.

- Objection overruled.

Thank you.

Now, is it not true that these men

were taken off Alcatraz in straightjackets...

...and placed in mental institutions and you

and Dr. Wendell Kiley signed the papers?

- True.

- s it not also true that of these 32 men...

...28 of them had never before set foot

inside a mental institution?

- Ha-ha-ha. I don't know.

- have their records if you'd like to see.

- Well, I'll take your word for it.

- Okay.

Here are men who came to Alcatraz

legally sane...

...were subjected to the conditions

of Alcatraz, then deemed to be insane.

- s that correct?

- Yes, but you can't say...

...that one causes the other.

Well, insanity's not a virus, is it?

It's not something we're all going to catch.

Objection, Your Honor.

The witness is not a psychiatrist.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Stamphill, confine your questions

to areas of Mr. Glenn's expertise.

Very well. Mr. Glenn's expertise.

Have you ever beaten a prisoner?

No, that would be illegal.

- Not even when provoked?

- No.

You've never hit, kicked,

used a blackjack or straight razor?

You've never punched a prisoner

in your entire career?

- Objection, Your Honor.

- Sustained.

Confine yourself

to one question at a time.

Is it not true that you ordered two guards

to throw Henri down a steel flight of stairs?

That you smashed his face

with a blackjack?

That you took a straight razor, sliced open

his ankle, hobbling him for life?

That's the truth, isn't it?

- Objection.

- The witness has already testified...

...he didn't beat any prisoners.

Are you aware that, in a federal court

system, perjury is a crime?

You could spend time in prison.

I would remind you, young man...

...Henri Young is the one on trial here,

not me.

I am a public servant.

I am not the bad guy.

I will not be treated the same way as

this lying, murdering, two-time loser!

Silence, Mr. Glenn.

Mr. Stamphill, you are perilously close

to contempt of this court.

You will proceed with caution.

Is that understood?

Temper, temper.

Well, would you care to withdraw

any testimony?

You wouldn't want somebody to come along

and testify to the contrary, would you?

No. I would not withdraw any testimony,

no matter what Henri Young has told you.

Oh, I'm not talking about Henri Young.

Who would believe him?

Mr. Simpson, did you ever

beat this man, Henri Young?

Objection, Your Honor.

This has no bearing.

No bearing? Your Honor, beatings have

a bearing on a man's state of mind.

Three years of darkness has a bearing.

Do we need to be psychologists

to know that?

You know that, Your Honor.

I know you do.

- Objection overruled.

- Thank you, Your Honor.

Mr. Simpson...

...did you ever beat Henri Young

with a blackjack?

Yes.

Did you ever throw Henri Young

down a steel flight of stairs?

I did.

You were ordered to do this?

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