The Company She Keeps

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If no-one has any objections.

I was wondering if we might

take Mildred Lynch first.

She a possible parolee and she's

been waiting for quite a while.

Is it agreed? Mildred Lynch first?

Well, if I might just have a

chance to glance at her file.

What's in the classification

report, Mrs May?

Mildred is popular in her college,

though no-one can quite understand why.

She's made no close friends, and doesn't

seem to really like the other girls.

But her manner is so ingratiating

it seems to have got her by.

What was her sentence?

Indeterminate.

At the discretion of the board.

She is still reluctant to face

real and difficult situations.

However, she has to some extent overcome

the handicaps of her early background.

She attends church services.

Catholic and Protestant.

And attends the Alcoholic's

Anonymous meetings.

That's been one of our troubles

with her. Trying to do everything.

Naturally, when she

feels it will impress us.

Such an eager beaver.

Doesn't have time to do her time here.

I suppose we can continue

our discussion later.

Have Mildred come in.

Oh, Mrs Crawford, you won't

mind changing places with me?

This way, I won't be so

much in her line of vision.

Sit down, Mildred.

You are in here on a forgery charge,

consisting of passing bad checks.

Yes, ma'am. But I can explain it.

I thought the check would be alright.

A friend of mine said he'd cover it.

You have a previous conviction

in the county jail in Nevada?

Yes, ma'am.

For receiving stolen goods. A fur coat.

Yes.

But I didn't know it was stolen.

You see, a friend gave it to me.

Mildred. Mrs Harris is not at this

moment asking for your excuse.

That's all passed.

Miss Holman and other

members of the prison staff.

Have been trying to fit

you in to the life outside.

We're bringing you here today

to see if you're ready for it.

I know you'll never have

me back here again.

We hope not.

But other girls have said that before.

They all make the same

promises and they believe them.

At the time.

Yes, I know.

Well, maybe they haven't become

genuinely conscious of their wrong.

A very good answer, Mildred.

Oh, I mean it, Mr Neeley.

You have to be corrected inside.

It isn't enough just to

let your hair grow back.

You know, falsifying has been

one of your worst problems.

Not only the lies you've told us,

but also the lies you've told yourself.

You thought you didn't

deserve to be here. That...

What you did wasn't criminal.

You still feel it wasn't?

I know now, that all my life

I was headed that way.

I thought I could steal... anywhere.

Even when I was a kid.

Maybe I was lucky to

get in here when I did.

I've tried to improve

myself in here, Mrs Harris.

I've learned lots of things.

Yes. We know all about that.

But how do you feel about yourself?

Well.

I'm sure willing to take a chance on it.

I can only hope you will.

Where is your family, Mildred?

Mildred...

Was abandoned when she was eleven.

Alright, Mildred. If you'll step outside

so we can further consider your parole.

Then it isn't definite?

We'll call you.

Wait across the hall.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, what do you think?

She is pretty, Mr Neeley.

I move to grant parole

under proper auspices.

I second that.

As soon as provision for parole can

be arranged by the Parole Officer.

All those in favor, say "Aye".

Aye. Aye. Aye.

Opposed?

Majority carried, didn't it?

Have Mildred come back.

I think she's a good risk.

Sit down, Mildred.

The board has just granted your parole.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Well, there is certainly

nothing to be sorry about.

It's all so wonderful.

I don't know what to say.

Well, if you can think a minute,

where would you like to go?

Well, somewhere new,

so I could really start over.

There is one in your pocket.

What about Los Angeles?

We have a Parole Officer there

who should be very good for you.

That's okay.

Joan Willburn.

She's young and understanding.

Some of the girls told me

I could take a new name.

I always went for Diane.

Diane Stewart, I thought.

Diana, the huntress?

Who's that?

Mildred, maybe I'm being

a little too hard on you.

I'm an old fogy.

You'll have to forgive me.

No you're not.

You're sweet.

You all are.

You understand, that parole is just

a continuation of your sentence?

It's serving time on the outside.

That being a prisoner still,

you'll have no civil rights.

When can I leave?

As soon as the Parole Office can

find a job and a home for you.

You'll be informed.

With your ticket of leave, you'll

receive $25 in cash to carry you over.

And a dress and a coat.

A dress?

What kind of a dress?

One made here in our shop.

Oh.

That will be nice.

Well.

Let your actions on

the outside thank us.

I hope we're right. All of us.

All?

Oh, you wet blanket.

My male instinct.

Which warns me that this young woman...

Is going to make things a lot harder

for herself than she needs to.

I would like to have spared her.

Diane. Diane Stewart.

I'm Joan Willburn. Hello.

Oh. Hello.

I was expecting a uniform.

I was expecting you to be different.

Any objections?

No. That's up to you.

Is that the going-away

outfit they gave you?

There was a blouse to it.

I got too warm on the train.

My car is there. Where's your bag?

Over here.

Cigarette?

Thanks.

We rolled them ourselves up there.

Most people don't like them.

So, what's the job?

Nurse's aide in a private hospital here.

If you don't like it...

You shouldn't have done such

fine work at the prison hospital.

It won't be so bad.

I'd like to be where there is life.

Holy Toledo, Miss Willburn.

Dames bossing you. Waiting on them.

You don't know how I hate women.

There are men patients, too.

I like my men on their feet.

I was talking about your work.

Not your personal life.

What did you have in mind?

Waitress. Cigarette girl. I don't know.

Like before?

That didn't work out too well.

Diane... it isn't easy to find jobs.

Hospitals need helpers.

They're even willing to

take convicts. Is that it?

It's only two blocks to the hospital.

You'll save car-fare.

You think of everything.

Well, so your friend got here.

Mrs Seeley... Miss Stewart.

Hi.

Well, I hope you're going

to stay longer than that.

After I saved that good room for you.

I think it will be fine.

What did you tell her?

She know about me?

You'll have to get over that.

No-one knows. No-one has to.

Except Mrs Haley at the hospital.

And she doesn't talk.

Don't you want to use it yourself?

You've paid for it.

Not too bad. I was in here earlier.

Opened it up for you.

And plenty of closet space. That's

another reason I chose the hospital.

Because they provide uniforms. You

don't have to worry about work clothes.

They don't have full

length ones up there.

They think anything below

the neck is unimportant.

Well... thanks for everything.

And the flowers.

We shall greet the parolee and

welcome her to her new home.

That's part of the job.

And now what about dinner?

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