There Was a Crooked Man... Page #5

Now, just stop it.

- Stop what?

- The con.

You're not fooling anybody.

It's just embarrassing.

- They're killing me by inches, Dudley.

- You'll outlive us all.

You got a lot of inches.

I hope everybody heard that.

So you really think

I'm trying to pull a con job?

I don't think. I know.

All right.

All right, then. I'll show you.

I can't take this kind of life

one more minute.

I'd just as soon go now

as embarrass anybody anymore!

Cyrus!

Cyrus. Cyrus.

For God's sake, help me!

I gotta get out. I gotta get out.

All right, Cyrus.

All right, we'll go. We'll go.

I guess we're in.

All right, good.

Now, we need 12 sticks of dynamite.

You can get them, Dudley.

We need that much to blow up the wall.

- We're going out through the wall, huh?

- No.

But when the time comes,

you're gonna blow it.

- And I get the guns.

- Right.

- What about me?

- Coy.

You're gonna be opening the front gate.

Yes, sir, we're gonna leave

the way we come in.

And when will that be?

When I say.

It sounds like it's gonna be a big one.

That's good.

It's good for my crops.

- Morning, Otis.

- Morning.

What are you working on now?

Oh, inspirational pictures.

For the new dining hall.

Dudley, how are you fixed for paint?

I got just what I need.

Come on, boys, break it up.

Break it up. Boys.

All right, boys, break it up. Lockup time.

Eight o'clock already?

My, the days fly.

Pitman, I been looking for you.

Warden wants you in the dining hall.

All right, boys, let's break it up

back there. Now.

Don't all leave at once.

Warden.

I wanted you to see it first.

Not bad.

- Pretty good.

- Yes, it's better than that.

And a hell of a lot of the credit

goes to you.

I suppose so. You too.

I won't deny it.

I've had my share of problems.

Those fellas at the capital,

they don't understand what I'm doing.

They never even heard of these new

ideas of penal reform, rehabilitation.

- Me neither.

- You're what they mean.

Paris, tomorrow they'll all be on hand

for the opening of the hall here.

Lieutenant governor, territorial

commissioner, all of them.

And I don't want them to ever forget it.

They'll make some speeches,

they always do.

And then comes a favor I want from you.

To get up, representing the men,

say a few words.

Show the lieutenant governor

what it's about here.

What we're like. The spirit we have.

- Right.

- I'm sorry, warden.

- Why not?

- The answer's no.

Don't tell me you can't make speeches.

You could talk a coyote out of a chicken.

You asked me to start them taking baths.

I did it. It was a lot of fun.

You wanted me

to help build this place. Sure.

Something to pass the time.

Better than swinging a pickax.

But I'm not giving speeches

to make you look good, warden.

- That's not the idea.

- I'm not gonna be your boy.

- That's not what I'm asking you.

- Of course it is!

Where's Whinner's paintings?

- What's that got to do with it?

- Where are they?

Would you want those hanging

on the walls of a prison mess hall?

Why not?

Help keep their minds off the food.

Tell me, when are you gonna hang Coy?

When?

Next week. I just got the word yesterday.

But you weren't letting it out

till after tomorrow.

- Thought it'd be easier on him.

- And you.

And your grand opening

of a goddamn mess hall.

- Warden.

- What is it?

Whinner's here. You sent for him

to make some changes on the paintings.

- Tell him to wait.

- Yes, sir.

Believe me, I've put in enough pleas

for clemency to choke a horse.

All I got back was, "The law is the law."

The law? No law told you to build this!

No law told you to get a doctor,

or teach them or give them baths.

But hanging a 17-year-old kid

who didn't know what he was doing.

Who'd know the difference

if you buried a box of garbage?

- Who'd care anyway?

- It's my duty to uphold the law.

I'm sworn to uphold the law,

you son of a b*tch.

Right.

That's what I am...

...but so are you, warden.

Make your own speeches.

Now, warden?

- Mr. Strong.

- Woody.

Hope you had a pleasant trip.

It was just God-awful.

Get the doc!

- It's in my belly, doc.

- All right. Move him.

Take him into the hospital.

Gently. Gently.

All right, men, break it up!

Form the lines again

and let's get this yard cleaned up.

Pick up the pace.

Miss Brundidge.

Sit down, everybody.

In a few minutes, you'll be eating

the first meal in the new dining hall.

Gentlemen, prisoners.

Your warden has asked me here today

to see this new building.

He seemed to think it was pretty big

onions that you built it yourself.

Well, it's a pretty fair job, I'd say.

Pretty fair job.

If some of you had applied yourselves

this way before, you wouldn't be here now.

Still, I guess you do

have reason to be proud.

Come to think of it...

...I suppose this is the only dining hall

in the world...

...ever built by murderers and bandits.

Even rapists.

Begging your pardon, miss.

This territory has laws

for men to live by...

...and that's the real point of everything.

When you haven't got laws,

you've got lawlessness.

And that leads to crime.

Chicken? I practically ain't seen chicken

since I studied anatomy.

- Enjoy it, doc.

- Thank you.

Say, Kid, what's going on over there?

In honor of the new mess hall...

...the governor's giving everybody

a full pardon.

- What have we got for supper here?

- Chicken.

Now.

I tore my pants. I'll be right back.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate

- How charged with punishments the scrolls

- Where's Tobaccy?

- I don't know. He must've slipped out.

- I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

We'll say grace now.

Lord, for what we are

about to receive...

...make us properly grateful.

- Warden.

Warden, I'd like to say a little something

on behalf of the men.

You go right ahead.

Here's what I mean.

He's the kind of man I was talking about.

On behalf of the men, I'd like to express

to the lieutenant governor...

...and to you, warden,

and to the schoolteacher...

...and the other distinguished guests...

...and all those law-abiding citizens

out there...

...just how much all this means

to us in here.

Imagine, after all we've been,

all we've done to society...

...we get chicken and green peas...

...and mashed potatoes.

Hey, Kid.

What's going on?

You know you're not supposed

to be in here.

That's the way they're going out.

Block it up!

Now.

Gordon!

Gordon!

Gordon!

Gordon!

Gordon!

The guns! Where's the Kid, huh?

Well, he went after them.

Twenty-five acres shot to hell!

What am I gonna tell the bank?

That's it.

I'm done for.

- Well, where's the Kid?

- Dudley, there's the wagon.

You and Cyrus get ready in there.

Once that gate's open,

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