What is it?
Got some rabbit in him.
Carry him on.
Those guys with the guns?
Convicts.
What the hell you talking about?
Wakefield prisoners, baby.
Same as us.
He's not going to make it.
Take these boys on back.
One of you cons trying for parole?
Come on. Up, up.
You guys hit bottom.
Here you go.
(THUNDER)
In there.
Follow me.
In there.
That's it for you.
Okay, next man.
Take a little off around the ears.
No haircut costs five, Zaranska.
Two only gets a crew cut.
I'll tell you when. You!
Fuck, I could use this on a bed.
It'll all come off then.
Maybe an ear with it.
What happened to that guy on the bus?
Don't talk to me unless I tell you to.
You hear?
Yeah.
What's it be, my man?
Leave the ears.
I'm getting ready to come on in.
Fresh meat coming in.
Where in the hell's Lemar at?
He don't have the job no more?
I'm the man in here.
I'll show you where you're sleeping.
Rest of you find some room on the floor.
We talk about beds when somebody gets out or dies.
Come on. Let's get down here.
Come on over here.
Every other one.
Come on down here.
Let's go.
What are you looking at?
Move on down there.
(THUNDER)
Come on, let's go.
Come on, move it down.
Move it on down.
Fucking shower.
Can't get a shower to save my fucking life.
Let me go!
Aah!
You all right, buddy.
You all right.
(SINGING) Dom do do do do
Mm mm mm mm mm
Dom do do do do do
De de do do
De de de de do
Dom do do do do
Do do do do do
Dom do do do do
Come on, boy.
Are you playing hard to get?
No!
God!
Ah!
Oh! Oh!
Get your own soap!
Ha ha ha!
Mr. Caldwell.
Lord, you getting fat, aren't you?
Stay out of my face, motherfucker.
- Hey, Huey. - Morning.
How about that game?
(PLAYING HARMONICA)
I'm getting ready to be angry, Abraham.
I'm getting ready to be real angry.
Oh, look at her go!
She gets up along the inside.
She's still behind her.
Look out!
She throws a left hand.
Trying to knock the bigger gal off her feet.
Belts her again! And she goes down!
Some new people came in today.
They need to go to school
so show them what the picture is.
When this is over.
Now, Eddie.
Where's my boots?
Walter.
Coming in, Otis.
I ain't ridin' the hide, Otis.
(HARMONICA)
Hey, I told you I ain't have no match, man!
Bobby, they want you down at the bars, boy.
Down at the bars, Captain?
Move.
Bars, Captain?
Goddamn it! I said move!
I ain't got all fuckin' night!
Where's the bars, Captain?
I didn't do nothing, Captain.
I didn't do nothing.
Aah!
Drop them pants and get on that gate.
But I didn't do nothing.
I didn't do nothing.
Uh!
Ah!
Is that one or two?
Three.
Three what?
Three, Captain! Four, Captain!
Five, Captain! Six, Captain!
Seven, Captain!
Eight, Captain!
Nine, Captain!
10, Captain! 11, Captain!
12, Captain!
Aah!
Pick him up.
What the hell you looking at?
Pick it up!
Pick it up! Pick it up!
Move it out!
Move out!
Let's see you swing them hoes!
All right, you boys, swing them hoes!
I'm getting it clean.
You coming down to the office, Captain Renfro?
I wrote them letters like you wanted.
You want to look at them?
What about my brother?
I'll send 10 boys over
to wash out his milk machine on Tuesday.
(HUMMING)
Get yourself cleaned up, boy.
(SMOOCHING NOISES)
Hey, baby.
Coming to see me tonight?
I think he's blushing.
Why, you...
Beat him up.
Sucker, you in trouble, you know that?
Beat him up, J.B.
(GUNSHOTS)
What's going on there?
Boys!
Elwood!
Over here.
Come on.
You're fixing to get over to Camp Five.
You're the dumbest asshole yet!
Put him down on the ground.
Now put the gun on him.
Hold him down.
I'm doing, Birdwell.
Ya'll look here now.
Aah! Aah!
Shut up!
Aah! Aah!
Aah!
All right. That's it.
We got a long night together
and I don't want to hear nothing but snoring.
You can't win 'em all.
No, I'll give you another shot at it.
We'll see you later.
My hospital calls, you ain't seen me.
Sure, Doc. What about him?
I'll see him next week.
Want me to do anything to him?
I'll take care of you in a minute.
No, sign says four today for blood.
Yeah? Don't believe everything you read, Zaranska.
Give me a sandwich, man.
50 cents.
Man, I know what it is.
Give me a sandwich, buddy.
Sandwich.
Fresh out this morning.
Why don't you look around?
Are you finished with that, Mr. Caldwell?
Two bits.
50 cents.
75.
What?
Sold.
You just cost me 50 cents
that was needed elsewhere.
Go ahead. It's protein.
No, don't! Stop it!
No! Come on! Wait!
No! Please!
Don't! Stop it!
Let me go!
No!
Let me go! Stop it!
(WHISTLES)
Hey, Rob!
Where are you going with those boys?
I need this stuff started today.
My insurance company wants an inventory.
Mr. Woodward, I gave you 20 people
and I'm down on my count.
I don't care other people's problems.
All right.
I got you a nice sirloin tip there.
Warden Renfro's going to hear direct
you don't come through for me.
Don't you worry.
All for the love of sunshine
This one, up.
Let's go.
Hey, I'll take it.
Thanks, man.
Hey, I do that.
I do that.
Where's my meat?
It's coming in back there.
You told me two steers.
That ain't two steers.
I couldn't do it this week, Pink.
Suppose I couldn't spare beer?
I'll make it up to you, all right?
Where's Carol at?
Back at the house.
Back to the truck.
I'll give you the name of the stoolie.
Give me back my dough.
Who told you to ask me?
The pin boy in the bowling alley.
Who said to ask him?
The fella at the auction shop.
Oh, shit!
Wash your mouth out.
Ha ha ha!
What time are you coming up there tonight?
My brother's got me working.
No, he doesn't.
I just bought you the night off.
What the hell you doing? Move them logs.
You move them, asshole.
You're asking for it, boy.
Floyd!
Yeah, Huey?
You got them taking a nap, Floyd?
Get back to work!
Huey, don't get excited.
Take it easy, now.
Floyd, shut up, man.
Peanuts just went up to six bits.
They want you up at the bars, Bullen.
Who wants the last peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
Half a rock. Who wants it?
You got yourself a phone call.
Aw, fuck!
Look here, Eddie.
Eddie, why a phone call?
Let's go, Bullen.
Why a fucking phone call?
Hey.
What's with the phone call?
I'm getting ready to say something important now.
I want to know I'm being listened to.
I'm getting ready to give out the detail.
Leonard, the kitchen.
Collins, slaughterhouse.
Sanitation detail.
You, too, Bullen.
This man is hurting...
You just deal with colored.
I'll handle the white folks.
Besides, I don't think Bullen's got much more
than refried shit for brains this morning.
What about your boy, Boyd, for clerical?
Come on, come on. We ain't got all day.
(COUGHING)
Hey!
I got this honky here!
I'll rip this cat's head off!
You get me the man! Now!
I can hear his neck snapping.
I want some respect!
You hear me? I want some respect!
We hear you, Walter.
Get me the man!
I hear his neck snapping.
Open this.
You want in?
Yeah.
Some fucking respect around here.
(SINGING) R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me
What you want
A little respect
What you need
A little respect
All I'm asking
For a little respect when you come home
Baby, when you come home
Hey!
Can we talk?
Who the fuck are you?
I want the man!
I am the man.
I'm the new warden here. My name is Henry Brubaker.
Don't be fucking with my head.
New warden, my ass!
It's true.
You look like a scumbag.
I'm fooling those guys out there.
Ha ha ha!
When are you going to paint this place?
What color?
Yellow, yellow.
Yellow.
I want a picture window in my place.
This yours? This one?
And one of them high-low pinto shag rugs
and some liquor and a TV
like them fucking trusties all got.
And some fresh air.
Which wall?
Which wall, what?
The window. The picture window.
Come on. Show me exactly.
Maybe I want a skylight.
Yeah, I want...
I want a skylight.
Aah! Aah!
How you doing?
Open this. Open it up!
Get this man some medical attention.
Get this place painted.
What color?
Any fucking color he wants.
Everybody crazy around here.
My office.
Mess with me now, you'll regret it later.
We don't work this thing out
you won't be around later.
I can make that tower guard blow you out.
Or you can continue walking with me
like the smart escort I figure you to be.
Hey!
Hold it!
I'm replacing you.
Coombes, give me a hand.
Call the governor.
Who is this asshole?
I don't know.
The name's Brubaker.
He thinks he's the new warden.
That's the way it is.
What is? What is, hmm?
You're Willets, Earl?
Burl.
Burl, right.
State employee, purchasing agent.
You've been here
three years next May.
Five years in July.
Government service ranking is seven.
You're due for an in-grade raise in May?
Yes, sir. That part's all true.
Captain, this is a hell of a note.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I mean it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I'll make sure all your magazines get forwarded.
Don't worry.
Mr. Brubaker, the smartest thing you ever done
was come in here incognizant.
The dumbest was stepping forward.
You want it, you got it.
Bye.
Can you hear me now?
Can you hear me?
The name is Henry Brubaker.
I'm what the governor promised, a reform warden.
That sneaks in like James fucking Bond.
All right. Yeah!
Purcell, give me that.
See this? This thing is gone.
Any trusty who wants to go back to raking rocks
just get caught using this on one of your charges.
If an inmate attempts an escape
do we wave so long?
Shoot him.
What?
Shoot him. Wound him if you can.
Nobody is getting paroled anymore
for trying to kill escaping inmates.
Let's get something straight.
I figure most of you guys belong here.
You don't have any respect for other people or yourselves.
You want more from me, you'll have to earn it.
We'll make this run like a 20th-century farm.
You'll stop selling blood to buy decent food.
You'll go out and plant vegetables.
Why you got your bubbles on?
Women can't come in here.
It's all right, Ruben.
I don't want 15-hour shifts.
The beef raised here on this farm
will be eaten by everyone.
What the...
Son of a bitch.
He was an army lieutenant.
He ran a military stockade.
Uh, to enforce...
This is ridiculous.
He taught penology at Price University...
How old are you?
40.
To enforce state laws.
This is ridiculous.
It's "to enforce the laws..."
We've got angry...
...prison without taking a loyalty oath.
To enforce state laws.
Enforce state laws.
To be respectful to my superiors.
And to faithfully perform the duties of this office.
No publicity on this.
People are on your side.
It's strong stuff.
I mean it, no publicity.
I quite agree.
To be loyal to...
I can't be kept in the dark
on something like this.
Chairman of the prison board is expected to approve
everything pertaining to the prison.
I hope you won't scream for free-world guards.
How long have you been on the prison board?
17 years.
Print it.
What do you think of our new warden?
I wonder what his first order of business will be.
Blow the place up.
Start from scratch.
You're making a joke, of course.
Of course.
Oh, yes.
Learn much?
Not enough.
I've never seen anything like this.
There isn't anything like this.
The problem isn't just inside the prison.
That's why I have to move fast.
Carefully.
Same thing, Lillian.
Henry, this is very important.
No kidding.
You're one of the strangest individuals I've ever seen.
I've got an 11:00. What's the problem?
She said you're the most punctual individual
she's ever known.
I'll call you later.
I know you will.
Man, this is pathetic.
That's it, Purcell.
That's all I've got.
Well, you're out of luck.
I need a desk job, like you.
Anyway, you's overworked.
It ain't up to me.
Purcell, can I see you a minute?
Yeah.
I got this...
I love what you did with Deach out there.
A lot of people will like that.
Who was that lady, by the way?
The day I came in
trusties put a man on, gunshot wound.
Uh-huh.
Is he okay?
What do you mean?
I mean, is he okay?
Is he back in the barracks?
I imagine he's at the county hospital,
don%you?
Find out.
And could you get me
a dozen pair of sunglasses, please?
All right.
You want them polarized or tinted?
You want the kind with the little mirrors?
People can't see in.
Makes them nervous as hell.
Just the regular glasses.
You got 'em.
Look, Captain...
Don't call me Captain.
Mr. Brubaker,
I know you're probably getting ready
to make some new job assignments around here.
You'll probably even name
your own warden's clerk.
I'd like to make a case for myself.
Uh...
Ha ha.
I know I'm not the smartest guy in the world
but I do know this job.
And I know this damn place
better than any man here, and that's a fact.
I've been the warden's clerk for eight years.
I know it.
What you got here, mainly,
are rural people,
you know what I mean?
They're not much at paperwork.
No sophistication. They...
I'm not trying to put anybody down.
Don't get me wrong.
I'm just telling you the way it is.
What are you in for, Purcell?
Nothing, really. I...
Nothing?
I held up a card game.
Ha ha.
Pretty stupid, huh?
Undoubtedly they were cheating you?
Absolutely.
That's a fact.
Anyway, uh...
You need something, I'm your man, okay?
Well, just the sunglasses for now.
You got 'em.
They all for you?
None for me.
Got you.
What are you going to do about my parakeet?
Abraham, come on.
Tell your story walking.
Yeah, I know. Your poor bird.
Roy, Roy.
Do I get the desk job?
I got a desk job for you.
Spell ophthalmology.
Say what?
Jesus.
Come on. Come on.
Let these men out daily, not every six months.
All right, sir.
Purcell, I want to see Bullen tonight.
Now let's look at look at that boiler.
You say come in?
I don't like being here.
Looks like I'm sucking up to the man.
You know what I mean?
You're a lifer.
Habitual criminal.
Big bitch.
Don't get on my bad side.
Word is that I'm dangerous.
How about setting that weapon aside?
How about you take off them glasses?
It says here they put you away for breaking a toilet.
Says you quit school in the third grade.
I ain't never quit nothin'.
Born in Louisiana,
twin brother run over by a train at 15
while trying to escape a reformatory.
They shot Hollis and laid him on the tracks
so the train would squash him
and make it look like an accident.
Kind of soured me, you know?
I got away...
Got arrested for stealing
a '65 Pontiac sedan.
I got two years for that
and I done them.
I got arrested for stealing
a '69 Pontiac convertible.
You big on Pontiacs?
Bone white,
leather oxblood upholstery,
big, huge chrome fender skirts.
How do they compare?
They fucked up the engine in '69, if you ask me.
I got three years for that.
Another felony.
Then come the toilet.
I got picked up for vagrancy, misdemeanor.
The next morning, the toilet's broken.
There's six men in the cell and they stick me with it.
Felony number three, habitual.
That judge gives you life for a toilet.
Yeah, or give me the toilet for life.
Now I'm shoveling shit for dead men.
Instead, how would you like to be a trusty,
and run my motor pool?
Ahem.
Mr. Brubaker, I've been studying you
since you first come in,
and it's come clear to me
that you are one weird fucking individual.
I ain't got you figured out yet,
whether you're good or bad.
Does that mean you'll run my motor pool?
Wear them khakis
and get me a guitar,
be the warden's new boy?
No. You're smarter than that.
The whole world's fucked up, Mr. Brubaker.
Yeah.
It ain't no use.
(THUNDER)
Tower number three.
Who am I looking at? He's looking at me.
Up there, you got Douglas Mizell.
Who's Doug Mizell?
He's a forger.
Three times grand theft.
I want a run-down on everybody that's got tower duty.
That's Purcell's job, sir.
L.-
I want only murderers up there,
one-time impulse killers.
Aren't you taking kind of a chance doing that?
It's the habituals you can't trust.
Most murderers already have it out of their system.
Guys like you, right?
Ha ha ha.
There's nobody around here like me.
Oh.
On death row, Why'd you let me go?
You tell me. You're the man.
You're trying to cover yourself both ways.
You're in for murder, aren't you?
I thought you asked me to come here so you...
All this good land, acreage, livestock
and everybody is starving.
Except guys like you.
(TIMER DINGS)
Did you eat?
I don't eat that shit you eating.
Oh. Know a lot about nutrition?
I know about hungry.
You like being a trusty?
(THUNDER)
Better than being a rank man.
I'll bet you've seen a lot of reform wardens.
Every one was a reform warden.
Not Renfro.
Not Renfro?
Uh-uh.
Where did the rank men's clothes come from?
Think we got a special factory that makes rags?
Renfro got those brand-new
just like the ones you're bringing in.
They'll be the same rags,
the next reform warden throws out.
Let me ask you about being a trusty.
When you're out in the fields,
holding your gun,
holding all the cards,
what keeps you from taking off?
Uh, Mr. Brubaker, sir...
I wouldn't be putting these ideas in nobody's head.
One day, we could lay down our shovels
and our guns, and stop playing the man's game,
pick up and run off.
(TELEPHONE RINGS)
(RING)
Hello. Brubaker.
Yeah.
Hang on.
Coombes?
Yeah?
For you.
Yeah?
What?
How many hurt?
What about security?
Okay, I'll be right there.
What's... What's wrong?
The rank barracks roof just caved in.
Get back to your bunks!
(YELLING)
(THUNDER)
You're taking a chance going in there,
you know that?
Somebody kill the current!
(EXPLOSION)
Aah!
Get it off of me!
Give me a hand!
Give me a hand, Coombes!
Come on!
(THUNDER)
Get them out!
Go back!
There you go.
Holy Christ, they're digging through there.
(THUNDER)
Get these men out of here!
Are you going to put them in your house?
What do you mean, call the state hospital?
You're 20 miles closer.
It's raining like hell outside!
I've got one station wagon. I can't put them in open trucks.
What?
Listen. These are injured men.
Don't lay down.
Give me your hand.
Put pressure on it.
An hour?
Why?
I'm counting on that.
Two ambulances. Yeah, thanks.
Thanks a lot.
We've got a bleeder!
Got to get this man to a hospital!
They all need a hospital.
I can't afford no more.
Shut up!
What did he say?
Nothing.
I can't afford no more!
Shut up!
What's going on here?
Nothing. What's wrong with you?
You're charging for medical attention?
-Who? -You!
Why are you so excited?
We've been charging for years.
Get your hands off me!
You call yourself a doctor?
Get your... Crazy man!
You're a crazy man!
Crazy fool!
Zaranska, this is your hospital now.
What? Hell, I...
Until we can get a real doctor.
I don't know shit about hospitaling.
You know more than I do. Work with me.
Galveston, oh, Galveston
I can hear your sea waves crashin'
While I watch the cannons splashin'
I clean my gun
And dream of Galveston
Looking good, Warden.
Willets,
you just took delivery
on 300 cases of chili last week.
Where are they now?
No. I just looked in the locker.
The boys gobble it up?
Not the rank men.
There's only 50 trusties.
That comes to 7,200 cans
divided by 50 trusties.
That comes to 144 cans.
You correct me if I'm wrong.
You're going too fast for me.
Divided by seven days,
that comes to 20.5 cans of chili
per trusty per day.
Does that tell you anything?
Willets?
Are you alive, Willets?
No, sir.
The roof just fell in.
People are starving.
Where's all the food going around here?
Purcell.
Sir?
Regulation outfits from now on
or prison-issue pants, boots, and shirts.
We don't have any boots.
Well, order them.
That's Willets' area, acquisition.
No, you order them.
I need about 700 pairs
and no more shaved heads!
Yeah. But sizes!
You know that.
Yes. I'll be ready.
God damn, look at you, new blood.
That's what this place needs.
You're Brubaker, right?
Right.
You don't look like no warden.
Chocolate prune cake in there.
My missus baked it up special for you.
I hate prunes. They cloud my mind.
Did I say my name?
No. But I know you.
C.P. Woodward. Call me Woody.
Can I help you?
Roof.
What?
I came about the roof.
Purcell said you'd declared
a state of emergency or something.
I thought you just sell lumber.
I sell it, I grow it.
I got wood in my veins.
Just give me your John Hancock.
We'll fix things up tight.
No. Hold it, now.
Shouldn't you see the roof first?
Whatever we find, we'll fix.
You get one pinprick hole in that tarpaper from the factory...
This isn't a question of pinpricks.
You built that thing wrong
and I want you to rebuild it.
Of course you do.
I'll help with the cost.
I'll bill only my materials.
This won't cost me anything.
You guarantee your work?
Of course.
You get on top of this shit pile
and then the job's not such a ballbuster.
You'll be happier then.
I'm not complaining.
Are you unhappy? It sure sounds like it to me.
I'm not in this business for my health.
Or anybody else's.
I'm doing my inventory.
It's a pain in the ass.
Ain't been anybody from Wakefield helping me lately.
We're not sending convicts to you anymore.
That's slave labor.
It is not.
You got it all backwards,
because this is a community.
The people around here
don't ostracize this prison.
We accept it.
We cooperate.
It's a two-way street.
You'll see a lot of nice things
from people in the farm supply business,
clothing business...
Lumber business.
Yeah. Take that cake.
The point ain't whether you like prune.
It's the thought that counts.
Exactly.
Just accept the stuff, keep your mouth shut
and let things run like they've been going for 100 years,
before we was born.
I'm talking about tradition.
Don't fuck with tradition.
Count your own woodpile, Woody.
I'll fix my own roof.
A lot of people will be disappointed in you.
It won't be the first time.
I hope you're right.
Take this.
Get me all the contracts on that roof.
I want everything.
Whose team you on?
What can I say?
He's the coach.
Short season.
Oh, no, it's no secret.
They write it all down.
Prison lumber and labor is building people's swimming pools.
That's right.
My trusty is loading our food into state police cars.
It runs that deep?
We're stepping on more toes than I imagined.
What's that?
I'm just warning you,
because you're likely to start hearing things.
I'll be ready to run interference for you.
I'll talk to the governor.
Can I call you back?
Uh-huh.
Bye.
(DIAL TONE)
Give me some of that stuff!
Where, uh, where's Huey Rauch?
I don't see him around.
Smell this.
I'm a city boy.
Purcell?
That smells like kerosene.
This animal's been shot. You know anything about it?
What about that truck out there?
Looked like a free worlder.
Now what are these?
I don't know.
Shacks.
Are they on our property?
Let me think.
Honestly...
Yeah!
I think.
Shit.
I don't know who's in there or what you're up to
but we got the new warden, and we're probably coming in!
Right?
(VOICES)
Probably nobody home.
I ain't hiding in the dark
like no human insect.
Yeah? What?
- Good morning. - Morning.
Get out here and take care of this.
Excuse me, I have a tight schedule.
TELEVISION: ...like some animal with one thing on his mind.
Oh, Mother, even kids can have sex.
Is that what you do at parties?
How many out there?
Three, four.
I don't want you getting a reputation.
Pull it up.
I already have one. The wrong kind.
Marry a man who respects you.
I want you to have a good name.
You! You want!
Is that all you can say?
Uh... You want a beer or something?
Don't talk like that again!
The improved Veg-o-Matic stretches food dollars.
Millions bought at $7.77.
Now yours for only $5.77.
You'll save $2.00!
Where's your wallet at?
Veg-0-Matic can cut a whole, firm tomato,
in one stroke!
That's my personal property.
I'm going.
Save $2.00 from the former price.
Get one today for only $5.77.
Let me give you...
I got it. I got it.
Hot dog! Look what we got here.
That be Warden Renfro's monthly supply.
Man took baths in that stuff.
Come on. Come on.
Willets, stay with me on this one.
Men work all day growing produce
so the warden and the trusties could sell
at below market value
using the proceeds to buy more chili and soda
which could be resold at an even greater profit.
You think so?
Think so?
You've been signing it out, haven't you?
I signed what Captain Renfro told me to.
Sign your own severance check, Willets,
because you're fired.
I'm in civil service.
Fired.
Uh, boy!
How do we handle purchasing without Willets?
They Will do it.
Who?
They'll have an election. Pick an inmate council.
That's a hell of an idea.
What?
That's a hell of an idea!
Huey! Glad to see you back.
Something real funny about that?
I can't wait till you break out of here.
We all got bets on that.
That's funny.
Brubaker's been turning this place into a damn jailhouse.
He just doesn't know who's running the place.
Deach will set him straight.
Floyd,
get out of here.
What?
Get out.
I live here.
Get your stuff and get out!
I got to move in here. This is mine now.
Get my bird, pack the rest of my stuff.
Let's go.
Spivey, take that shack over there.
Bullen, take that one.
It would be smarter to do this during daylight.
People wouldn't see it.
Maybe that's exactly why he's doing it now.
He's crazy.
No, he's not.
He's dangerous.
Somebody needs to stop him.
Put a bullet in him.
There's a disease growing in there, Henry.
Hostile to your health.
I know that.
You ought to get yourself some
paper cups or plates or something.
Ah ha!
(OPENS CAN)
You ought to get yourself someone to look after you.
That doesn't sound like the kind of advice
I'd expect from you.
No. I meant...
I meant one of those convicts.
So how's it going?
If the Chinese invade us,
I got insurance.
If we have a landslide, earthquake, a volcano erupts,
I'm covered.
If my roof caves in, nothing.
No insurance.
What are you going to do?
Going to rebuild it ourselves.
Terrific!
Terrific?
The governor's been wanting to come down here.
It's a perfect time.
He'll actually see something happening.
He wants to have pictures taken, shake a few hands,
put his arm around an inmate.
It's what you all call a photo opportunity.
Tom's not like that.
- I don't know what Tom's like. - He hired you.
I need a doctor here, not a governor.
- You need both. - I know what I need.
No. I know what you need.
It's a complex world out there.
I'm dealing with people who would much rather
not see that prison change at all.
Well, they're sure letting me know about it.
I'm being hit from all sides.
People are shooting my cattle.
I got trusties sabotaging my crops.
There's nothing I can do.
Why not?
Well, do you know what happens,
if I send a trusty back into the barracks?
He's dead.
The other men will kill him.
Change their attitude.
I'm trying,
but I got to deliver.
I can't come in here and just paint this place.
- Lillian? - Hmm?
A permanent doctor.
Yeah, I know. I am getting you one.
Look, there's a prison board meeting on Tuesday night.
I want you there.
The great diplomat?
Ah ha ha!
I'll take that risk.
There's some deputy warden from out of state
who's giving a talk on prison reform.
I see, and you want me there to defend myself.
No. I want a second opinion in that room, Henry.
State your case. They need to meet you.
I mean, you do make an impression, right?
Ha.
All right!
Father, give him a kiss.
Vote for Frank Zaranska He will help you
Pray and he will pull for you
Don't you listen to them others
They'll lie and cheat and screw you
Warden!
It's like sitting on top of the world.
God Almighty.
You know what I'd like to do with her?
Yeah, I know what you'd like to do.
You're wrong.
You ever just want to talk?
Shit.
You been whacking it so long
your mind is starting to collapse in on itself.
Brubaker, that's the first time
I've heard them laugh in 15 years.
It doesn't bother you, does it?
We need the right men on that council
because Brubaker will use that council
to take away your power.
He already took away my refrigerator and lockers.
He's changing the lock on the gate!
My name is Jerome L. Boyd.
I got what is called a sociopathic personality.
That means I ain't got no feeling
for my fellow man.
My parents fucked me up.
Now, hold on a minute. Listen.
I deem it an honor to throw aside my hatred
and help all you dumb assholes.
(SINGING) Sometimes it causes me to tremble!
Let there be a hush on the land.
Gentlemen, Jesus come over to my bunk here last Tuesday.
You know what he said?
What did he say?
What?
What did he say?
Many is called, but damn few is chosen.
Amen!
"I want you to put these boys
"underneath your wing.
"See that they get subscriptions
"to any damn magazines they want!"
All right! Yeah!
Frankie scores again with a left hand.
Now, I am corrupt,
just like the rest of you.
But,
I am honest about it.
Now, you vote for Mr. Clarence,
know exactly what you get.
Zaranska?
Yes?
One vote.
Don't be such an old woman.
Feel the power!
I feel mysterious and wondrous workings within!
Hallelujah! Can I get a witness?
The Lord is with us!
Name?
What about the doctor?
Supposed to be here this afternoon.
They said he'd be here three days ago.
He's coming about 1:00.
Double-check that.
One more.
Well, what are you waiting for?
We're waiting on you.
You guys are the inmate council.
Go on ahead.
I'll be with you shortly.
Hold on.
That's not the way I understood it worked.
Lillian Gray got authorization for you to get bids right away.
How long does his lunch take?
When will he be back?
Yes.
Would you please?
Yes.
Thank you.
Oh.
Something wrong?
Don't know exactly where to start, Mr. Brubaker.
One man, one vote. It's up to you.
You stop what you don't like.
No.
All right, then.
I make a motion that we consider a movement
to discuss the plumbing in the barracks.
How many say aye?
Aye !
Somebody should be taking notes about this.
How about Pavitch?
There's a rumor he can write.
Pavitch, take note.
This coffee tastes like Zaranska washed his feet in it.
Only you would know, you old sock-sucker.
This is a waste of time.
Why don't you resign?
We can find a replacement for you fast.
Yeah!
I think living facilities are important.
Toilets, beds, and such like.
I think we ought to start there.
Can we get a contractor here
to redo the toilets?
Can I see the warden?
The council is in session
and these men got appointments afterwards.
Mr. Brubaker has a prison board meeting tonight
he got to be at.
But I want to see him.
If a trusty escapes,
he can't be a trusty.
Damn straight.
But I'm talking about extenuating circumstances.
For instance, a man escapes, realizes his mistake,
then surrenders himself voluntarily.
Put him in the hole for 10 days.
Take away all his visiting privileges.
What the fuck you talking about?
Don't let him mail more than one letter a week.
Don't let him watch TV for a whole damn week.
Birdwell, you got strange ideas of criminal justice.
Up your ass, I believe.
Want to know something, Zaranska?
Sure, I'd love to know something.
About your mama?
Hey! Hey!
Come on, Abraham.
Let's go.
Hands off him, Purcell!
I got to clean my conscience.
I got something to tell you about in private.
You don't have to explain anything to anybody.
Come into my office.
I got guys waiting, that have appointments.
Tell them a story. You guys can manage.
I come to Wakefield before World War ll.
Take a walk, Purcell.
This ain't open to the public.
Yeah.
We used to make corn liquor out of this.
Growed it at Campfire Field.
(HUMMING)
What happened?
What happened to your eye?
Got hit.
With what?
With a baseball bat and chain
and a rope with knots in it.
You're doing time for manslaughter?
Yes.
For killing my brother with a rock.
How much time?
35 year.
How long have you been here?
Hell, I don't know.
Well, I do.
38 years, 6 months,
according to this.
(INTERCOM BUZZES)
Yeah.
Your doctor is standing out here.
Tell him just a minute.
There was lots of guys.
The yardman say, "Abraham, chop them up,
"and take them for a walk down in them shadows."
What?
I give Jake the clothes to the laundry.
I stuck them close at the fence,
where all them other boys are buried.
Must be over 200 of them out there now.
You mean the bodies
that are supposed to be buried on this farm?
Yes.
Where?
There's 15,000 acres out there.
I know exactly where they lay.
Campfire pasture.
How?
Abraham, how do you know?
I was the coffin maker.
Mr. Brubaker, this is Dr. Campbell.
Yeah.
Will you show me exactly where tomorrow morning?
Yes, sir.
That board meeting ought to end around 10:00.
I should be home around midnight.
We'll hold the fort.
I need five guys with shovels after breakfast.
You got 'em, coach.
What about Abraham?
I'm going to get him released as soon...
Why you want to do that?
Do what?
Why don't you leave him be?
All he knows is this place.
You knew he was here this long, didn't you?
He's not bothering nobody.
You can't hide in prison forever.
Stir up some hell, Henry.
How you doing, Abraham?
You got an appointment.
What?
Little business.
Where we going?
Doc wants to see you, Abe.
I ain't sick.
Hello, Abe.
Abe, we got some questions that have to be answered.
Then you can get some sleep.
Eddie, get that stuff.
What are you goin' to do?
Ahh!
Captain Brubaker has been out of the mainstream too long.
There are 13 states, including mine,
that still rely on a strap to control the convicts.
Because others do it doesn't make it right.
The hell it doesn't.
It's better than time lost sitting in the hole.
It's a simple fact that crop production at Wakefield
is down nearly 40% this last quarter since...
But revenues are up 20%.
Give me a year. Leave us alone.
We'll eat what we grow, sell the rest,
I'll have a cash surplus in a year.
Give us some warning
when you go doubling the price of corn...
You cancel an old contract
with a customer like C.P. Woodward Lumber.
He used prisoners for slave labor.
As far as corn goes, we're still below fair market.
How much cash surplus you talking about?
In farm accounting alone,
150,000.
Dollars?
Yes, sir.
Good Lord.
We'll need some Wall Street types
to help manage it.
I'd like to put it back into the facility.
The place is literally falling apart.
You've got dry rot, disease, rats
and a boiler that your own state inspectors
condemned six years ago.
We authorized a new boiler.
Why didn't purchasing take my calls?
Brubaker, I'm looking into that.
Let's look at your firing a state employee
who was bookkeeper for years.
Because he wasn't worth...
You're letting inmates with fourth-grade educations take over.
They don't all have fourth-grade educations.
You're telling me that's going to work?
These men have to take responsibility.
They'll change this place, not me.
What the hell are we paying you for?
The bottom line
is that you want to make life real easy for those men.
No. Not at all.
I think you like men like that
because they're reckless, same as you.
They see something they don't like,
they shoot it up, burn it down,
make up their own laws.
Sir, those are your laws.
They've held up our businesses.
They've raped our daughters and murdered our sons.
So we make them wards of the state.
We accept the responsibility to feed and clothe them,
not to starve them, not to torture them.
Change the laws that you don't like.
It's my job...
To listen to those who pay you.
It is my job to reform a prison
not work for political parties.
May I butt in a second?
Let the record show
that State Senator Hite is speaking.
Mr. Brubaker, face the facts.
The people in this state have problems getting jobs,
paying rent, insurance premiums.
Now come election time,
they might vote for your prison reform thing
but that's just a reflex.
They don't really want to hear their taxes are being raised
to take care of murderers and rapists.
That farm wasn't costing anybody anything
before you got your hands on it.
Follow what I'm saying?
Let's build them a putting green,
a clubhouse, or a miniature golf course,
a hot, bubbly bath?
How about a roof that won't cave in?
That's enough.
An insured roof this time.
What?
The collapsed roof isn't covered at all,
but we do have coverage for threshing machines,
balers, a tractor.
Sounds sensible to me.
I approved those policies personally.
Your company sold us the policies
but that equipment doesn't exist!
What you have got, Mr. Brubaker,
is a poor attitude.
I don't like you, but that's beside the point.
No, it's not.
I'm telling you this as a favor to Lillian Gray,
who, for some reason, believes in you.
Do not come marching in here
from wherever the hell she found you
lecturing us about how to treat our fellow man.
We're here for free, except you.
We could be other places.
So could I.
We all better eat and calm down.
Brubaker!
How long do you think you'll last
pulling stunts like this?
I'm sorry I don't have
the right answers for you.
Then make some up.
They will pull the plug on this.
If you're not in the system, you can't change it.
Let them think they control you.
The real obstacles to prison reform
aren't John Deach or Senator Whatever.
Hite.
It's people that just want
to say the right thing
and get nothing done.
Everything you do is right.
Everything everybody else does is absurd.
I don't know what's right or wrong.
I'm interested in what works.
There's no way to beat those guys.
You can't toe the line. It keeps changing.
I've locked the goddamn keys in the car.
Jeez!
God!
These prisoners are realizing
they don't have to take everything that's shoved at them
because they're human beings.
Maybe when they get out
they won't rape Deach's daughter.
Bravo, but you're full of shit.
It's not enough to make things work inside that prison.
Out here they don't want
to hear you or see me.
Why do you spend day after day
with people like that
and let them make a fool out of you?
Because sometimes you don't lose.
If you can't figure out
how to play these people
you'll self-destruct
and then you'll be of no use to me.
Turn on the lights.
Just got the call from the tower.
Find out why the man in Tower One
didn't report anything.
These guys at night, they...
Find out!
You had to listen to him, huh?
What?
"What?"
I don't believe men like you.
You start wars and let others fight them.
You talk about do this, do that!
You say, "follow me around.
"I've got it figured out.
"We can make things better."
That's a lot of bullshit!
All you do is get people killed!
Maybe you're right.
Don't go in there now.
Yeah, but I...
Not now.
Warden!
There's a Lillian Gray on the phone.
She's saying it's urgent.
I'm through talking.
How did you find out about this so fast?
Nothing happens there that doesn't get out.
Now you're sounding paranoid.
I'm not paranoid.
The enemy is real.
All right, you know the fairgrounds,
the auction house where we sell cattle?
What time in the morning?
8:00. I'll meet... No!
Make that earlier, 7:00.
I'll see you.
I said alone.
He's a friend.
Have you found anything yet?
No.
It's still having its effect.
You called him?
He called Lillian last night himself.
Let me put this as simply as I can.
Stop digging-
Why?
Because you're paid to run
one of this country's best-conceived prisons.
Because although Wakefield is admittedly
an imperfect institution, much like America herself,
she is nonetheless a grand experiment.
Government of the man, for the man,
by the man.
And it's the only prison
that's shown a profit.
What is this?
I think the senator is exhibiting uncommon foresight.
We'll try and salvage something here today.
We'll work with you, Mr. Brubaker,
release funds.
You can hire people,
get you that boiler.
Yep.
Draw up plans for more barracks.
Get yourself a couple of new tractors.
How many men are buried out there?
That field was an old paupers' graveyard,
when my granddaddy was alive.
It's in the records.
I'm talking about murder.
It's time to cut the bull.
Grave robbery is a felony in this state.
You want to wind up in your prison,
Mr. Brubaker?
He means it.
I'm calling the governor.
The governor already knows.
Nobody's asking you to stop digging.
We're ordering you to.
I don't like being put in a corner.
Edwards, stay out of this.
You're another token liberal
that doesn't know shit.
I'll reform Wakefield,
if it means putting the prison board behind bars.
I've been behind bars, Brubaker.
Two years in Atlanta for real,
not a few days in disguise.
So you listen to this token liberal.
You got a high opinion of yourself.
Most of it I agree with.
You don't understand inmate mentality.
If you did, you'd know,
that asshole's ready to offer you anything you need for those men.
It's not enough.
Henry, stop the digging-
Concentrate on the men who are alive.
We have leverage now.
I've got a prison to run.
I hope so.
Bullen!
Come over here and bring some guys.
Zaranska, Elwood.
Start digging here.
Hey, Brubaker!
I believe we got us one.
I got one over here.
Hold it.
Hold it. Careful.
Okay, careful.
Just scoop it out.
Easy,huh?
Spoon it out if you have to.
Got one here, boss!
Easy!
Carefully pry this off.
Don't touch anything you find inside.
Don't touch anything inside.
Zaranska.
I can't get it out.
Every time I move it, it cracks.
Careful, careful. Don't touch it.
(THUNDER)
The whole goddamn place has gone crazy.
They're digging up men dead 30 years.
That's because the man took away the reason to be smart
and have some self-respect.
Turning the whole damn place upside down.
Prison board will stop him.
Bullshit, Floyd!
They already tried to buy him.
So, what do we do?
What about it, Dicky?
You got the man's ear.
Does he want to wake up dead?
There's talk around here!
You're the only one doing all the talking, Huey.
Yeah, that's great.
All because one old fool
starts running off at the mouth.
Uh...
Eddie, come here.
It's time to go.
It's time to check out.
Why?
What do you mean?
It's too loose.
It's crazy.
They're digging up bodies.
Too many people got the answer.
Well, I figure I'm going to stick around,
take my chances here.
Skull under the arm.
Both lower leg bones severed from the thighs.
Why were the legs cut off?
It's easier to shorten the man than to lengthen the box.
How old are these?
I'm not a pathologist.
I need causes of death.
If I took them to the state hospital.
Tell the TV stations
we found four murdered bodies.
There's probably more.
You'll start a stampede.
Exactly.
Mr. Brubaker!
We got a runaway vehicle.
Huey is in it.
- Huey? - Yes, sir.
Why?
He killed Abraham.
Where would he be? Where would he go?
Pinky's.
Maybe.
Alive. I want him alive.
Try over there.
I ain't open for business yet.
Hey, what the hell's going on here?
You guys crazy?
Who are the sandwiches for?
Nobody.
Where's Huey Rauch?
Who?
Where's your sister, Pinky?
What, Carol?
What's behind that door?
- My house. - Open it.
The door's locked.
I'll go round front.
Hey, this is my castle!
I'm calling the law.
Then call them.
For now, shut up.
Hold it!
He's dead. He's dead.
...examined all the remains in a laboratory?
Yes.
What about these broken bones?
They may be due to a blunt trauma
but those fractures could have occurred after death
as a result of a cave-in.
You don't need 20 years of practice
to recognize a skull violently crushed.
Son,
I have the forensic report
sitting in front of me.
According to all my scientific friends,
it's just not all that clear on that point.
You've got some indigent inmates
buried in an old paupers' graveyard.
Anything else, I think, is pure speculation.
Do paupers die in pieces, Dr. Gregory?
Mr. Partridge, this board is quite capable
of questioning its witnesses
and this whole procedure...
This whole procedure could have been
a closed hearing.
It would be in everyone's best interest
if we got Mr. Brubaker's thoughts on his firing.
Our primary responsibility at this point in time
is the Christian reinterment
of the remains
and to regain the control over this institution
that our warden relinquished.
We don't have any more gunfights in our streets.
Any comment on what your thoughts might be on priority?
Priority?
I tried to reach the governor on that
and give him my thoughts
but we all know how busy he is.
The board can handle this.
I was going to suggest
the best way to prevent trouble, confusion
or a waste of the taxpayers' money
would be to shoot prisoners sentenced to Wakefield.
All right, that's enough!
You answer to those remarks, mister!
Miss Gray can explain them.
I believe you speak the same language.
You want me to bring him back?
Nobody touches him.
I figured I hadn't heard the last from you.
Why do you think you can walk out?
That's murder they're talking about.
If they condone it,
you can't tell these men why they're locked up.
You don't see any options, no middle ground?
I don't play politics with the truth.
No way to compromise?
Oh, on strategy, maybe,
but not on principle.
Goddamn it, I agree with you!
No, you don't.
Not really.
MAN: The business of this prison is farming,
not digging up pasture looking for old graveyards.
What's done is done.
We got ourselves plenty to think about today.
Never mind dwelling about yesterday.
We all got to get back to the basics at hand.
That's why I'm standing up here,
saying to you convicts straight out,
how Rory Poke is going to run this here prison.
We won't be wasting any more time,
misunderstanding each other.
I am a firm believer in discipline.
If a convict does his share of work,
he's not going to have anything to worry about.
That ain't been happening around here lately.
And there ain't no crop
in no field at no prison that I'm in charge of
that's going to die in the fields.
The trusties will divide you into work groups.
You listen, now.
You give them any trouble,
and they've got my permission
to punish the troublemaker hard,
fair, but hard.
I packed up your personal things.
If you get any mail, I'll take care of it.
Don't worry.
Hey, Brubaker.
I'm getting ready to tell you something.
POKE: All of you here, every damn one of you,
will receive equal justice...
You were right.
POKE: I don't believe in making no specials,
having some convicts looking more important than others.
Trusties are the only men that deserve.
That's what you're going to discover
Rory Poke is all about.
There ain't gonna be no more warden
playing favorites at Wakefield.
(CLAPS)
That convict in the rear.
Get back there in line!
You men, get back into line!
You'll get a taste of the strap!
(MEN CLAP)
What the hell?