This Is Martin Bonner

1

[ Keys Clattering ]

[ Door Opens ]

[ Door Closes ]

[ Exhales ]

[ Australian Accent ]

This is our introductory pamphlet.

Do you mind if I ask how much more time you have?

Eighteen months and six days.

Perfect.

Basically the program works in three phases.

The first phase is to develop personal

thought processes and moral filters.

Um, the second phase, and this is important,

tests those moral filters

in real-life situations.

So you could find yourself,

you know, working off-site, uh,

in work programs,

and any money you make gets put into a bank account...

which is available to you when you're released.

- You mean I get to earn money outside?

- Yeah.

Well, that would depend on, um,

the type of work, I suppose.

You know, minimum wage.

How much is minimum wage?

Well, in Maryland

it's $7.15.

$7.15?

Could be a little less here.

Sh*t.

That ain't bad.

Yeah, well, we can cross that bridge when we come to it.

Um, the third phase is reentry into society,

where you work with your mentor to make

sure that you don't end up back here.

You ain't gotta worry about me ending up back in here.

- Well, I hope not.

- Yeah, I paid my dues and then some in this motherf***er.

Yeah, well, some people find the transition

a little more difficult than they expected.

What type of jobs they got for someone like me?

Truthfully, I don't know, you know.

Um, custodial, maintenance?

Crafts labor mostly.

Factory stuff.

You new at this job?

Yeah, I'm new at this job.

What kind of job you have before?

I worked for a church.

Like a preacher?

No, like a business manager.

[ Chuckles ]

A business manager.

I guess even church got to have business, huh?

Yeah, they do.

Why you don't have that job no more?

What, your church go out of business?

I have this job now.

Do you like this job?

I think I will, yeah.

Mm-hmm.

You get to talk to people like me, offer your charity.

- Makes you feel good, huh?

- I'm not offering you charity.

You have to work really hard at this.

You can't watch TV, you can't smoke,

you've gotta fully dedicate yourself--

'Cause we got other things for you to be doing.

You're gonna be in class five days a week.

Oh, so then that translates into, like, an early release?

- What do you mean?

- What do I mean?

I mean, what's in it for me?

People come here all the time

talking about programs and sh*t.

I always wanna know what's in it for me.

I'm out the door in 18 months no matter what.

You know what I'm saying?

Well--

We can't speak for the parole board,

but if you're successfully participating in the program,

we're happy to send somebody into

the meeting to vouch for your work.

So you ain't got sh*t to bring to the table.

Can't watch TV, classes five days a week,

and then you send somebody to the parole

board to say I've been a good little boy?

That's a bunch of bullshit, man.

That's a waste of my time...

when I'm out the f***ing door already.

We're interested in rebuilding

your commitment to community.

What the f*** you know about community, man?

Hey, look.

What you think this is in here, man?

I've been in the penitentiary system my whole life.

I already know a thing or two about community.

Tell me something I don't know.

What if you transferred those skills...

to outside the penitentiary?

Hmm?

[ Scoffs ]

You've got an opportunity here.

Sh*t.

I don't believe in Jesus or none of that, man.

That's fine.

This is Jesus, ain't it?

That is Jesus.

You know, the program seeks to develop the whole person--

spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, physically.

But the spiritual aspects of the program

are based on the teachings of Jesus.

Like I said, man, I don't believe in none of that.

Well, like I said, you don't have to.

You ain't trying to sell me on Jesus Christ,

then why am I looking at this white-ass picture then, man?

Why don't you come to the table with some real-deal sh*t,

talk to me about how I can get the

f*** out of here in six months,

and then maybe we have a conversation

about your damn program.

You did a nice job.

Carried yourself real well.

Thank you.

Hey, listen.

It's not our job to sell them.

In fact, we try to make it sound unattractive...

so that way you really get the guys

that are willing to go for it.

[ Chuckles ]

- Well, look, thanks for letting me tag along.

- No problem.

See you back at the office.

See you, Bob.

Cheers, mate.

[ Woman ]

Are you having any problems with your vision?

[ Man ]

Um, no. Not really.

- Have you had any dryness in your eyes?

- No. No.

Okay.

I'm just going to put this up against your face,

and now you tell me which lens

makes the letters more clear.

Number one?

Or two?

Two.

Three or four?

Four.

Five?

Six?

They both look the same.

Seven?

Eight?

Eight.

Nine or ten?

There you go.

Thank you.

- Have you been to this office before?

- Uh, no.

Okay, can I get your full name and address, please?

Martin Bonner.

Mm-hmm.

Two N's.

350 Capitol Hill Way.

Apartment 4.

Reno, Nevada.

89502.

[ Man ]

Okay. Great.

Thank you, Mr. Bonner.

We'll give you a call when they're ready.

Should be about a week or two.

[ Speakers:
Orchestral ]

[ Continues ]

[ Food Sizzling ]

[ Continues ]

[ Ends ]

[ Woman ]

I was gonna call you right after I put the baby down,

but he's been acting up all night.

Really?

Put some whiskey on your thumb and let him suck it.

He'll be out like a light.

[ Chuckles ]

I will not.

And we don't have any whiskey in the house, thank you.

Shame on you, girl.

You know.

It worked for you when you were a baby.

[ Chuckles ]

Hey, how was your day?

What'd you do?

What did I do?

Um, I unpacked,

and I went and bought some household

stuff and made myself some dinner.

So you're keeping busy?

Oh, yeah.

Lots to do.

Lots to do.

What about work?

Work? Still in training,

and, um, yeah,

you know, you'd think I was joining the C.I.A.

for the wringer they put you through.

Oh.

[ Chuckles ]

Well, we miss you back here.

Ryan and I didn't do Sunday brunch

this week for the first time.

I don't know. We just forgot.

You were the one who always reminded everyone.

Oh.

Well, I'll see if I can get some vacation

time in a couple of months, all right?

And I'll come and visit.

Okay. Hey,

do you wanna say hi to Andy?

No, you two can put that holy terror to bed.

All right?

I'll call in a couple days.

[ Chuckles ]

Okay.

I love you, Dad.

Love you too, pumpkin.

- Bye.

- Okay, bye.

[ Line Ringing ]

[ Man ]

Hey, this is Ryan. Leave a message.

[ Beeps ]

Hey, Ryan, it's your father.

I just talked to your sister,

and she said that you are as elusive

with her as you are with me.

All right, so why don't you take her

out for lunch or something, all right?

Or go and visit the baby, okay?

And if you're busy painting, paint me

something really big for my wall here.

I look like a darn college student.

All right.

Call me if you've got some free time, okay?

Otherwise I'll call you in a couple days.

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