REVISED

4/30/57

ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE

#34

MAY 14, 1957

"DAY OF DISASTER: RIKERS ISLAND"

WRITTEN BY: GEORGE LEFFERTS

PRODUCED BY: ROBERT COSTELLO

DIRECTED BY: WILLIAM CORRIGAN

"DAY OF DISASTER"

(FADE IN)

(CLOCK)

SWAYZE)

SWAYZE:

Ladies and gentlemen, a good evening to you. John Cameron Swayze speaking. On February 1st of this year, a commercial airliner crashed in a blinding snowstorm just outside the walls of Rikers Island Penetentiary. In a dramatic decision, inmates of the prison were released outside the walls to help rescue victims from the burning plane.

Today, fifty-seven of these convicts have been freed or paroled in recognition of their heroism.

This is their story. Because of regulations protecting the identity of convicts and their families, some names and events will be disguised. In all other respects this is a true story, based on actual happenings of that day, the story behind the Rikers Island plane rescue...

In just a few moments, "Day of Disaster: Rikers Island" on the ARMSTRONG CIRCLE THEATRE.

COMMERCIAL

ACT ONE

(FILM SHOT OF LA GUARDIA AIRPORT
RUNWAY, PLANE GETTING READY TO LIFT)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

This is Runway Four at New York's
La Guardia Airport.

(SHIP TAXIS AND TAKES OFF)

Almost every minute a commercial
airliner lands or takes off at this
busiest of airports.

(AERIAL SHOT OF RIKERS ISLAND)

Five hundred yards from the tip
of Runway four is Rikers Island.
Few passengers are even aware of
its existence, although it has
become a familiar landmark to
pilots. An isolated island in
the middle of the world's largest
city, Rikers is accessible only
by ferry boats of the Department
of Marine and Aviation.

(SHOT OF FERRY BOAT)

It is an Island of convicts. Rikers
Island houses the Penitentiary of
the City of New York.

(PRISON)

-2-

I - 2

SWAYZE: (O.S.) (Cont'd)

Here, 3,000 men eat, sleep, and
work inside the walls of the
prison. All around them, the
city bustles and churns...

(FILM OF SNOW FALLING IN NEW
YORK CITY)

At noon, on Friday, February
1st, 1957, it began to snow in
New York, a fine pelting snow,
the kind that delights little
boys and snarls traffic. Visi-
bility was still good, the wind
a passive seven miles per hour.
At La Guardia, a plane began to
pre-flight its engines.

(SMEAR PAN)

(RIKERS ISLAND EXTERIOR. ART CARD)

Within the sound of these engines
was Cell Block 4-D of the Rikers
Island Penitentiary. The first
cell in the block housed Matthew
Quinn...

(CLOSE SHOT - MATT QUINN)

... number 07128, serving three
years for larceny and the embezzle-
ment of company funds.

-3-

I - 3

(PAN)

(NEXT CELL - LUKE BENNETT)

SWAYZE: (OS) (Cont'd)

In the adjoining cell was Luke
Bennett, 06158, finishing a two
year sentence for burglary and
attempted robbery.

(PAN)

(THE NEXT CELL. IT IS EMPTY)

The next cell, 4-D three, was
empty, but in a short while it
would hold this man...

(CLOSE SHOT - JOHNNY BATAVIA)

John Batavia - two-time loser,
doing an indefinite sentence for
assault and facing a five-year
detainer in West Virginia upon
his release from Rikers.

(FILM: PLANE WARMING UP)

Three men - and this silver ship
which was destined to crash squarely
into their lives -

(CREDITS)

(AFTER CREDITS DISSOLVE TO FILM)

-8-

I - 8

SWAYZE: (Cont'd)

to rehabilitation. For her
efforts she was made the target
of political enemies and harassed
by headline seekers. Now, she
was fighting for a budget that
would enable her to maintain
trade schools, counselors, and
other rehabilitation facilities...

KROSS:

... I just wanted to make absolutely certain that we got a fire engine over on the Island before the dock was shut down.

HARRISON: (FILTER)

...came over on the last boat,
Commissioner.

KROSS:

Better make sure it's operating.
I'd hate to have any kind of
trouble over there when we can't
get a vehicle across the river.

HARRISON:

I'll have it checked, Commissioner.

KROSS:

Good.

(SHE HANGS UP)

-10-

I - 10

(HUGH PLACES SOME PAPERS BEFORE
HER. SHE PUTS ON GLASSES TO WORK)

DISSOLVE:

(CLOSE SHOT OF MATTHEW QUINN AND
HIS WIFE IN VISITING BOOTH AT RIKERS
ISLAND. THE BOOTH CONSISTS OF A
SMALL GLASS PORTHOLE ABOUT EIGHT
INCHES ACROSS THRU WHICH THE WIFE
CAN LOOK. ABOUT THREE FEET AWAY
IS ANOTHER GLASS PORTHOLE WHERE HER
HUSBAND STANDS. EACH TALKS TO THE
OTHER BY TELEPHONE. IT IS LIKE
TALKING FROM ONE SUBMARINE TO AN-
OTHER SUBMARINE)

-12-

I - 12

MATT:

Listen, you didn't tell her anything, did you?

MOLLY:

I said I wouldn't tell her about
you unless you said it was O.K.

MATT:

Don't tell her.

MOLLY:

I still think we should tell her.

MATT:

Molly -

MOLLY:

I talked to the lady from the
Welfare and she says we should
tell her.

MATT:

Who's the kid's mother, you or the
lady from the welfare?

MOLLY:

It isn't right. Matt, last night,
she came into bed with me, you know
the way she used to do when she was
a little teeny kid...

MATT:

So..

MOLLY:

She said she had a bad dream. Then

-20-

I - 20

MATT:

What's different?

LUKE:

I got a trade now. I went to
auto school.

MATT:

A trade is fine. You got a job?

LUKE:

I got a brother-in-law in Jersey
says he'll give me a try. Only
thing, I gotta get a parole offi-
cer to O.K. it.

MATT:

And if you don't? Back on the
sauce?

LUKE:

Uh uh. I had the agonies enough
tryin' to lay hands on enough
dough for a fix. I been on my
knees in front of junk-dealers
cryin' for the stuff. No sir.
This time I'm goin' out clean
and I'm stayin' clean.

-22-

I - 22

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 2:48 PM, inmate John Batavia, number 06478 was brought from quarantine to see the Warden. For 3 weeks, since his admission, he had been segregated from the other inmates undergoing a battery of classification tests, interviews and physical and mental examinations. Now he was ready to be sent to General Population.

WARDEN: (LOOKS UP)

06478. You have a low number, John. I see you were here before.

JOHNNY:

That's right, Warden.

WARDEN:

(PICKS UP A SLIP)

You requested an interview with the Warden before going to General Population.

JOHNNY:

That's right.

WARDEN:

O.K.

-23-

1 - 23

JOHNNY:

Could we talk alone, Warden?

WARDEN:

(TO OFFICER) O.K.

(THE OFFICER STEPS OUT)

JOHNNY:

Last time I was in, Warden, I
made things a little easier for
myself, you know?

WARDEN:

No. I don't know.

JOHNNY:

I mean there's always a couple
of punks tryin' to get away with
somethin', things the Warden
would like to know, you know?

WARDEN:

You mean you'd like to rat on
your buddies in return for some
special privileges.

-24-

I - 24

JOHNNY:

Warden, I ain't got any buddies.
The way I look at it there's only
one guy, that's me - Johnny Batavia,
and the rest of the world can just
drop dead.

WARDEN:

John, you'll find things a lot dif-
ferent here at Rikers than they
used to be.

JOHNNY:

So they tell me...all these tests
and things.

WARDEN:

The tests are only a part of it.
We've got a classification officer
now to assign you to one of the
work gangs. If you want to improve
yourself, you'll have a chance to
go to school nights and learn a
useful trade or even get a High
School Diploma.

-25-

I - 25

JOHNNY:

I got my diploma from the Hampton
Farms reformatory, Warden.

WARDEN:

It hasn't done you much good, John.
Maybe this trip you'll learn some-
thing.

(JOHNNY SMIRKS)

If you have any trouble, if you get
too tense and you want to talk it
over with a psychiatrist or a chap-
lain, we've got people here to help
you.

JOHNNY:

Don't worry about this boy, Warden...

WARDEN:

There's a mailbox in each cell block.
If you have a complaint, or if you
want a counseling session, drop a
form slip into the box. The warden
has the only key, so don't be afraid
to use it. We're putting you in 4-D.

JOHNNY:

Warden --

WARDEN:

Yes?

JOHNNY:

What about our deal?

-26-

I -26

WARDEN:

You'll be given the same treatment everybody else gets. There are no deals here.

(PAN UP TO JOHNNY'S FACE. ARROGANT SMIRK)

That's all, John.

DISSOLVE

(RADAR CONTROL TOWER AT LA GUARDIA.
RADAR MAN WITH SCOPE BEFORE HIM,
EARPHONES, AND MIKE)

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 2:50 PM, the Radar Departure Control Center at La Guardia was contacted by Flight 823.

FLIGHT: (FILTER)

Hello, this is Flight 823 for Miami - may we have a runway?

RADAR:

Hello, 823, this is Radar Control, you are cleared for radio contact on a frequency of 120 point 4 megacycles, do you read me?

FLIGHT:

Read you. What's the plot?

-27-

I - 27

**RADAR:**

You have a ceiling of 500 feet, visibility three quarters of a mile, wind from the northeast, heavy snow continuing. You are cleared for take-off on runway four.

(SOUND OF PLANE'S ENGINES REVVING)

(FILM)

(PLANE TAXIES OUT TO EDGE OF RUNWAY)

(SNOW)

(ANNA KROSS' OFFICE. SHE LOOKS UP FROM HER DESK AS HUGH COMES OVER)

**SWAYZE:**

At 2:53 PM, Anna Kross prepared for a press conference, in which she would present details of her proposed budget.

**HUGH:**

The press boys are outside, Judge...including a certain gentleman.

**KROSS:**

Kendall?

**HUGH:**

That's right.

-28-

I - 28

KROSS:

Ask them to come in, Huey.

(HE GOES TO THE DOOR. FOUR OR FIVE REPORTERS COME IN, INCLUDING KENDALL AND BRIGGS. THEY AD LIB GREETINGS OF "HELLO, JUDGE," "HELLO, HUGH" "SOME DAY, HUH?" ETC.)

Sit down, boys.

(THEY DO. SOME TAKE OUT PADS)

KENDALL:

Commissioner, my newspaper...

understands you're asking ______
dollars for some crackpot rehab-
ilitation program, is that right?

KROSS:

I've requested ______ dollars
to set up a pilot study, Mr.
Kendall.

KENDALL:

As you know, we take a dim view
of this expensive social work
when it comes to criminals...

KROSS:

I've read your articles on the
subject.

I - 32

I - 32

KROSS:

I decided that if the performance
could move the rest of us, it
could do the same for the men at
Rikers.

KENDALL:

They did a Christmas play at Rikers?

KROSS:

Yes.

KENDALL:

I'll bet you got a million laughs.

KROSS:

No, all we got were a few hundred
letters from the inmates thanking
us.

KENDALL:

I suppose this proves that every
one of those guys is just a poor
misunderstood soul? It's really
our fault?

KROSS:

Mr. Kendall, some of those men are
the scum of the earth, so filled
with hate and violence that you
wonder if they were made by the
same God who made the rest of us.

-33-

I - 33

KENDALL:

Then why all this spending on
rehabilitation programs and
counseling and entertainment.

KROSS:

If you'll look about an inch
past the end of your nose, you'll
see why. These men aren't in for
life. In less than 3 years, 85%
of them are going to be back in
the community -- right along
with you and me.

KENDALL:

All the more reason to scare them
with a dose of punishment.

KROSS:

And make them more resentful, more
full of hate? Mr. Kendall, these
aren't weaklings, they're strong
personalities. And if we don't
do something to lessen their
hatred while we have them in prison
- God help you and me and my grand-
children when they get out. It isn't
social work or do-good as you call
it, it's plain self-preservation--
protecting the democratic process!

-41-

I - 41

(THE OFFICER COMES ON THE SCENE)

OFFICER:

All right! On the count!

Farm gang get your We're
on snow detail after supper!

(THE MEN GO INTO THEIR CELLS)

(LUKE BENNETT GOES INTO HIS CELL)

(CLOSE DOORS)

(CAMERA STAY WITH LUKE. HE STANDS
IN THE CELL FOR A WHILE. HIS HAND
IS SHAKING BADLY. HE TAKES OUT A
CIGARETTE AND TRIES TO LIGHT IT BUT
HE IS SHAKING TOO HARD)

JOHNNY'S VOICE: (ON FILTER)

...a guy gets a little tense now
and then...you might want a little
relaxation, you know?

(HE STARTS TO SHAKE THE BAR)

LUKE:

Hey, Captain, Hey - lemme out!

(BOTH OFFICERS COME OVER)

OFFICER:

Pipe down.

LUKE:

Listen - lemme out. I need a
doctor!

-43-

I - 43

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 4:00 PM, Flight 823 was still
detained at LaGuardia airport.

(AIRLINE DESK. HENRY GREEN IMPATIENT)

HENRY:

Can you tell me what's going on
out there? My family has been on
that plane since 2:30.

CLERK:

The flight has been delayed sir,
that's all we know.

HENRY:

Martha must be having a nervous
breakdown in there by now. Is there
some way I can talk to them at
least?

CLERK:

I'm afraid not, sir.

HENRY:

Can she leave the plane?

CLERK:

She can at her own request, sir.

HENRY:

How about at my request? I'd
just as soon put them on a plane
tomorrow morning.

-44-

I - 44

CLERK:

I'm sorry, sir. If you'd like
to write her a note, I'll see
that someone takes it out to
the ship---

(HE IS GIVEN A PAD. HE STARTS TO
WRITE A NOTE TO HIS WIFE)

(CLOSE SHOT OF HIS FACE)

(HE TEARS THE NOTE OFF THE PAD)

HENRY:

Ahh, I guess I'm acting kinda
silly -

(HE CRUMPLES THE NOTE AND TOSSES
IT ON THE FLOOR)

(CAMERA PANS DOWN FOR CLOSE SHOT
OF THE CRUMPLED NOTE AND DOLLIES
IN AS WE:)

(FADE TO BLACK)

END OF ACT ONE

-45-

II - 1

## ACT TWO

(FADE IN)

(FILM)

(PLANE TAXIES OUT TO FLIGHT LINE)

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 4:30 PM, Flight 823 taxied
out to the Flight Line at
LaGuardia. It was still snow-
ing hard, and few planes were
taking off.

(DISSOLVE)

(MED CLOSE SHOT OF DOCTOR EXAMINING
LUKE BENNETT WITH STETHOSCOPE IN
HOSPITAL EXAMINING ROOM)

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 4:45, Luke Bennett was being
examined at the prison hospital.

DOCL:

Breathe in and out.

(HE DOES)

O.K. Put your shirt on, Luke.

LUKE:

It's the heart, huh, Doc?

(THE DOC DOESN'T ANSWER, STUDIES
LUKE'S RECORD)

-48-

II - 4

DOC:
Well?

LUKE:
Yeah, I had one last night.

DOC:
About what?

LUKE:
I'm standing on a dock, see---
like the ferry dock, here on
the Island. Then all of a sud-
den I fall in. I'm yelling for
help but there's nobody around.
Then this straw comes floatin'
along. I grab it, see. I hang
on - and it turns into a snake.
It hooks its teeth in my arm.

DOC:
And you're hooked again, huh,
Luke?

LUKE:
I don't dig you.

DOC:
Luke, a lot of guys, just before
they go home, get to feeling de-
pressed. They start to worry
can they get a job, will their

-50-

II - 6

(THE CAMERA COMES BACK TO THE DOCTOR
WHO IS WRITING HIS DIAGNOSIS ON THE
CHART)

(CLOSE SHOT AS HE WRITES THE WORDS
"GOING-HOME BLUES")

DISSOLVE

(COMMISSIONER KROSS' OFFICE. SHE IS
TALKING TO A GROUP OF THREE BUSINESS-
MEN AND LABOR REPRESENTATIVES)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

At five PM, Anna Kross was still
having a tough day. In spite
of the snowstorm she was visited
by a delegation representing busi-
ness and labor in the New York
Area.

REPRESENTATIVE:

...to put it bluntly, Commissioner,
you're taking bread out of the
mouths of respectable citizens!

KROSS:

Just how, Mr. Russell?

REP:

Here.

(MORE)

-51-

ACT II - 7

REP:

(HE HOLDS UP A COPY OF HER ANNUAL REPORT)

Here's your annual report to the
mayor. Look at it.

(HE DOES AND READS)

Printed at the Rikers Island Print
Shop, Inmate Vocational Training
Program. Why this is as good as any
professional job!

KROSS:

Thank you.

REP:

This job should have been done by
a professional firm and set by union
printers. And this is only one
example. You have a tailor, shop
making suits for the men who leave
-- that's like stealing money from
members of our Council. You have
an automobile shop, a bakery, a
paint shop, a carpentry school, a
typing school, a shoe repair school...

KROSS:

Just what do you suggest, Mr. Russell?

REP:

The Management-Labor Council demands
that you end these programs...it will

-52-

ACT II - 8

REP: (Cont'd)

be a saving to the taxpayers and
a profit to independent labor and
management groups.

(SHE STANDS UP)

KROSS:

Mr. Russell, did you or any of these
gentlemen bother to read that report
which you consider such a threat to
your livelihood? Did you?

(PAN THEIR FACES. NONE DID)

I see not. If you had read it, you
might see that crime in this country
is costing you taxpayers 20 billion
dollars every year...and is growing
by leaps and bounds!

REP:

What has that got to do with this?

KROSS:

Just this. There's only one place
where we have a chance to do some-
thing to change a criminal into a
decent member of society -- and
that's when we have him in prison.
When I took over this department,
our prisons were factories for the
making of more efficient criminals.
Youthful offenders were thrown in

-53-

II - 9

KROSS: (Cont'd)

with seasoned convicts. Idleness
was epidemic. In a year or two a
man went out of here with no trade,
no understanding of himself, no
lessening of his anger at society
-- he went out to commit crimes -
and before you knew it he was
back again.

REP:

We didn't come here for speeches,
Commissioner.

KROSS:

I'm not going to make a speech,
Mr. Russell. I'm just going to
ask you one question -- which
is more valuable to you -- your
pocketbook or your personal
safety.

REP:

I see there's no point in arguing.
We're going to lodge a protest
with the mayor --

KROSS:

That's your privilege, of course.
I'd like you to know that. I

-54-

II - 10

KROSS: (Cont'd)

took this job only because the
Mayor asked me to take it and
because I knew there was a mess
to clean up. I guess that's the
woman in me. There's a great
deal to be done here, Mr. Russell,
and as long as I'm able, I'll do
it the way my conscience dictates.
Maybe that isn't smart politics
but it helps me sleep at night.
Good day, gentlemen!

(THEY FILE OUT)

KROSS:

Huey, would you be good enough,
to get me a glass of water?

(HE POURS HER ONE)

And I thought that after twenty
years on the bench I was going
to grow old gracefully.....

(SHE SHAKES HER HEAD)

(DISSOLVE)

(CELLBLOCK. MEN STILL PLAYING
CARDS AND TALKING IN GROUPS)

-55-

ACT II - 11

SWAYZE: (OS)

At five thirty, most of the in-
mates had been fed. Those in the
coal gang and on the snow removal
gang were outside...

(FILM OF WORKING GANGS)

Those who were studying at night
were in the classrooms...

(MONTAGE OF INMATES LEARNING TYPING,
MOTOR MECHANICS, ENGLISH, BAKING,
BARBERING, ETC.)

Rikers Penitentiary ran like a
well-oiled clock....

(FILM OF MARCHING GANGS)

In the auditorium, the inmate band
was working up some hot licks...

(INMATE BAND FILM)

And in the prison hospital, patients
were getting the evening medication...

(HOSPITAL FILM CLIP)

Assistant Deputy Warden Harrison
returned to his office after the
evening meal...

(HARRISON AT DESK WORKING)

Matthew Quinn sat in his cell and
tried to recall the picture of his
daughter he had seen that afternoon...

(MATT QUINN ON HIS BUNK IN CELL)

-56-

ACT II - 12

SWAYZE: (Cont'd)

And Johnny Batavia, hoodlum and
two-time loser, explained to some
new cronies exactly how he planned
to leave the prison..

(JOHN BATAVIA AND THE TWO CARD GAME
KIBITZERS)

JOHN:

...so this laundry truck goes out every day right? I rig up two straps - out of regular belts - with a hook on each end, see? O.K. The laundry truck comes in and parks. Me, I'm on the ground underneath the truck, right? I hook the straps under me and onto the chassis on each side. Got it? One under the shoulders, one under the legs. The truck pulls out, I'm ridin' underneath like a baby in a cradle...across the ferry -- and goodbye.

(THE OTHERS ARE IMPRESSED)

(JOHNNY LIKES THE ROLE OF THE BIG
SHOT)

1

At the airport - only five hundred
yards across the river from Cell-
block 4-D, Henry Green still waited
for Flight 823 to take off...

-58-

II - 14

### RADAR:

You are cleared for runway four, 823. Ceiling is five hundred feet, visibility three quarters of a mile. We will control your departure on a frequency of 120 point four megacycles.

### PILOT:

We read you.

(SOUND OF PLANE'S ENGINES REVVING UP)
(FILM CLIP, PLANE TAXIES OUT ON STRIP IN SNOWSTORM)
(ENGINES REVVED UP FULL)

### SWAYZE:

At exactly six P.M., the pilot of Flight 823 gunned his engines and drove the big ship at one hundred and forty miles per hour down the airstrip ...

(FILM CLIP OF PLANE'S WHEELS DOWN AIRSTRIP)

Fifteen seconds later, she was airborne...

(PLANE'S WHEELS RISE OFF AIRSTRIP)

-59-

ACT II - 15

(CELLBLOCK. MEN PLAYING CARDS ETC.
AS BEFORE)

SWAYZE: (OS)

In cellblock four-D, nobody so
much as lifted his head at the
familiar sound of engines..

(WARDEN AT DESK)

In his office, Deputy Warden Harrison
filled out his consensus report....

(ANNA KROSS) (SHE PUTS ON HER COAT)

Anna Kross put on her coat to go
home...

(HENRY GREEN SIGHS AND MOPS HIS FOREHEAD)

(CLERK SMILES)

Henry Green ended his long vigil
with a sigh of relief...

(RADAR MAN WATCHES OSCilloscope)

The radar man switched his focus to
a small blip on his screen....

(PLANE RISING THRU CLOUDS AND SNOW)

...and destiny raised a giant fist...

(RADAR SCREEN. BLIP GOES OFF)

At exactly six o'clock, Flight 823
veered off the radar screen...

(RADAR MAN WITH HEADPHONES REACTS)

The co-pilot was heard to scream
"Ground Coming Up!"...

(PLANE HITS GROUND, SKIDS, TWISTS AND
EXPLODES IN FLAMES)

-61-

II - 17

HARRISON:

I'll take full responsibility.

Get going!

OFFICER:

O.K. I'll take your order!
(HARRISON PICKS UP THE PHONE)

HARRISON:

Get me the Commissioner.

(HE SITS FOR A MOMENT IN DEEP THOUGHT.
CAMERA MOVES IN ON HIS FACE)

SWAYZE: (OS)

While he waited for the Commissioner,
Deputy Warden Harrison, felt the
full impact of his decision. If a
single inmate were injured, were
killed, or escaped as a result of
his decision, he would find his
career ruined and face disciplin-
ary charges --
(PHONE AGAIN)

HARRISON:

Commissioner -- Warden Harrison --
(DISSOLVE AS HE TALKS)

(FILM. FLAMING PLANE)

(DISSOLVE TO CELLBLOCK)

-62-

II - 18

(THE CELLBLOCK IS IN PANDEMONIUM,
THE INMATES ARE CROWDING TOWARD THE
OFFICERS. THE FLAMES OF THE PLANE
ILLUMINATE THE WALLS. OFFICER
RUSHES IN AND BLOWS WHISTLE)

OFFICER:

O.K. Pipe down! Shut up!

(THE MEN QUIET DOWN)

Now listen to me! A plane crashed
just outside the block. Dep Harrison
wants volunteers! It's dangerous,
there's a thousand gallons of gas in
that ship! O.K. Who goes?

(MATT STEPS FORWARD)

MATT:

I'll go.

(A FEW OTHERS FOLLOW SUIT)

(TWO SHOT, JOHNNY AND JULIO)

JOHN:

Looks like they're just gonna let
me walk out, huh Julio?

JULIO:

You better watch out, big shot.

JOHN:

You just keep your mouth shut.

(HE MAKES A MENACING GESTURE AND FALLS
IN WITH THE OTHERS)

-65-

ACT II - 21

KROSS:

We'll try a side landing. What
we can't move by ambulance we'll
carry. Let's go!

(DISSOLVE)

(BURNING PLANE. THE PLANE BURNS IN
THE BACKGROUND, OBSCURED BY CLOUDS
OF SMOKE. SNOW MACHINE CAN BE USED
IF FEASIBLE. A CIRCLE OF FIRE AND
SMOKE UP FRONT TOWARD CAMERA RINGS THE
PICTURE AND PROVIDES A CURTAIN THRU
WHICH THE ACTORS CAN STEP. SHOOT LOW
TO MAKE FLAMES LOOK HIGHER.)

(WARDEN HARRISON STANDS TO ONE SIDE
DIRECTING THE RESCUE OPERATION. IN-
MATES COME THRU THE CIRCLE OF SMOKE
AND FIRE LUGGING INJURED VICTIMS.
THEY ARE ALMOST ALL BURN CASES, THEIR
FACES SMUDGED.)

(FOUR INMATES COME ON SCENE WITH A
FIRE HOSE WHICH THEY TRAIN ON THE
WRECK, WETTING THE INMATES AND SUR-
VIVORS)

(THE FOLLOWING AD LIB DIALOGUE IS HEARD:

"BRING THAT HOSE OVER HERE"

"HELP ME, HELP ME"

"MY HUSBAND IS IN THERE"

"TAKE THIS GUY UP TO THE HOSPITAL"

"PUT THAT FIRE OUT"

-67-

ACT II - 23

HARRISON:

She's burned on her arms! Get her
up to the first aid station in
Administration!

(MATT GOES OFF WITH THE CHILD IN HIS
ARMS)

(FILM)

(FERRY BOAT LANDING)

SWAYZE: (OS)

At 7 P.M. the Commissioner arrived
with the first disaster units. Be-
cause the dock was not operating, the
boat was forced to make a difficult
side-landing.

(FILM)

(FIREMEN, POLICEMEN DISASTER UNITS ALL
RUSHING)

Besides disaster units, police,
firemen, reporters, and civil aeronau-
tic experts arrived on the scene...

(DISSOLVE)

(THE CRASH AREA. BURNING PLANE)

(ANNA KROSS ARRIVES ON THE SCENE AC-
COMPANIED BY REPORTERS AND HER ASSISTANT.
SHE GOES TO HARRISON. TWO SHOT)

KROSS:

How is it going?

-71-

ACT THREE

III - 1

(FILM)

(BURNING PLANE)

SWAYZE: (OS)

Within twelve minutes after the
crash, inmates of the Rikers Island
Penitentiary had rescued all living
passengers from the wreckage. Time
and again the prisoners went willingly
into the flames...

(LIVE SHOT - RESCUERS BRINGING OUT
PASSENGERS)

...three explosions drenched them
in burning gasoline..

(CLOSE SHOT, INMATE)

...snow and freezing weather caused
frostbite..

(JOHNNY PULLS A MIDDLE AGED MAN OUT)

and always present was the tempta-
tion to loot or to escape in the
confusion.

(DISSOLVE)

(HOSPITAL EXAMINING ROOM. HUBBUB IN
BACKGROUND, SURVIVORS ARE BEING TREATED
HERE ALSO)

(THE DOCTOR COMES IN. LUKE IS TAKING
STERLILE BANDAGES OUT OF AN AUTOCLAVE)

-73-

III - 3

OFFICER: (LUKE)

Kick the glass in.

(LUKE HESITATES)

(TIGHT SHOT OF CABINET MARKED
NARCOTICS)

(LUKE HESITATES)

You paralyzed? Kick it in?

(LUKE CAN'T DO IT)

(THE OFFICER PICKS UP A BOOKEND AND
SMASHES THE GLASS. HE STICKS A TRAY
IN LUKE'S ARMS)

Hold this.

(THE OFFICER BEGINS TO PLACE PHIALS
OF NARCOTICS ON THE TRAY RIGHT UNDER
LUKE'S NOSE. LUKE STARES AT THE STUFF)

OFFICER:

I'll take the hypos, you follow
me with that stuff.

(THE OFFICER PICKS UP A BOX OF SYRINGES
AND STARTS OUT THE DOOR)

(LUKE HESITATES. THEN HE QUICKLY
REACHES FOR A PHIAL OF NARCOTICS AND
STUFFS IT INTO HIS SIDE POCKET)

DISSOLVE:

(ESTABLISHING SHOT OF EMERGENCY CENTER
IN WAITING ROOM OF ADMINISTRATION
BUILDING. THIS IS A SIMPLE ROOM WITH
LONG BENCHES. THESE ARE BEING USED
AS TABLES. SURVIVORS ON STRETCHERS
LINE ONE WALL. PLASMA BOTTLES CAN BE

-77-

ACT III - 7

(STRETCHER CASES BEING CARRIED ONTO
FERRY BY POLICEMEN OR FIREMEN)

(CLOSE SHOTS OF VICTIMS ON STRETCHERS.
STOCK DISASTER FILM)

SWAYZE: (OS)

By 8 P.M., the first survivors were
being taken off the Island.

(CRASH SCENE. FLAMES ARE BURNED OUT
NOW. THERE ARE A FEW BODIES LYING
AROUND, COVERED. A FEW INMATES SEARCH
THE WRECKAGE FOR MORE SURVIVORS)

SWAYZE: (OS)

Long after the fire was under con-
trol, inmates continued to search
the area of the wreckage for
missed survivors. Parts of the
plane were strewn for over half
a mile in a broad swath...

(CUT TO TWO SHOT OF JOHNNY BATAVIA
AND JULIO RAMIREZ. THEY KNEEL OVER
A BODY)

JOHNNY:

...Julio....

(HE MOTIONS FOR HIM TO COME CLOSE)

I'm gonna change coats with one
of these stiffs and go out with
the rest ...

(JULIO DOESN'T RESPOND. JOHNNY LOCKS

-78-

ACT III - 8

AROUND TO SEE IF ANYBODY IS WATCHING.
EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THE WRECK INSTEAD)

JOHNNY: (Cont'd)

Gimme a hand.

(JULIO DOESN'T RESPOND)

Gimme a hand, I said ..

(JULIO DOESN'T MOVE. JOHNNY BENDS DOWN TO REMOVE THE COAT FROM A MAN WHO IS PRESUMABLY DEAD. THE MAN GROANS INSTEAD)

Hey - this guy is still alive!

(THE MAN GROANS AGAIN)

He's bleedin' bad under his arm..

(JOHNNY GROPES INSIDE THE MAN'S COAT)

(THE MAN GROANS)

Take it easy, Jack. If I can get a hold of that vein, maybe I can stop the blood..

(HE PROBES AROUND. JULIO WATCHES, BEWILDERED)

That's it. Julio, get a couple of guys with a stretcher. Make it fast, this guy ain't got much left.

(JULIO NODS AND YELLS FOR STRETCHER BEARERS)

JULIO:

Hey! Stretcher! Over here. Quick!

(TWO MEN COME OVER WITH A LITTER)

(JULIO TALKS TO JOHNNY)

-79-

ACT III - 9

JULIO:

You better let go of him.

JOHNNY:

If I do, he'll be gone before we
get him up there. You guys lift,
I'll keep the pressure on this
vein..

(THEY LIFT HIM ONTO THE LITTER AND
CARRY HIM OFF, WITH JOHNNY STILL
STEMMING THE BLEEDING) (CU JOHNNY)
(EMERGENCY CENTER. MORE VICTIMS. THE
PLACE HAS ADDITIONAL DOCTORS AND
NURSES NOW. REPORTERS ARE INTER-
VIEWING VICTIMS, TAKING NOTES, USING
PHONES)

(LUKE BENNETT COMES IN WITH THE TRAY
OF DRUGS AND BRINGS THEM OVER TO THE
PRISON DOCTOR WHO MOTIONS FOR HIM TO
SET THEM DOWN. LUKE LOOKS AROUND,
PAUSES, THEN REMOVES THE STOLEN PHIAL
FROM HIS STOCKING AND PLACES IT ON THE
TRAY WITH THE OTHER DRUGS)

(MATT QUINN IS STILL COMFORTING THE
LITTLE GIRL WHEN HER MOTHER, BANDAGED
BUT O.K. COMES IN AND EMBRACES HER)

-81-

ACT III - 11

KENDALL: (Cont'd)
reported that at least
six of the most danger-
ous have already escaped
in the confusion, using
the many boats that are
ferrying survivors back.
Commissioner Kross ad-
mitted privately that
no count of the inmates
was made before they
were released ... Set
that up for the next
edition, Charley...
I'll phone you back.
(HE HANGS UP)

(HUGH IS STANDING THERE, LISTEN-
ING)

HUGH:

Kendall -- how can you stand
yourself?

(HE TURNS HIS BACK AND GOES OVER
TO WHERE THE COMMISSIONER IS GIV-
ING ORDERS TO SOME OF THE GUARDS)
(PAN)

BRIGGS: (Cont'd)
(PAUSE. HE HEARS
KENDALL)
Hold it!
(BRIGGS LISTENS TO
KENDALL, HIS HAND
OVER THE PHONE.)

-82-

ACT III - 12

KROSS:

Warden, I want you to keep a gang
of men out all night to search for
victims... See that the rest of
these men get some hot food and
medical treatment if they need it
(CALLS)... Doctor, do we have enough
narcotics on hand?

DOC:

(LOOK UP FROM PATIENT)

We have enough now, Commissioner.

(HUGH COMES OVER AND INTERRUPTS HER)

HUGH:

Commissioner, can I talk to you
privately?

(THEY STEP ASIDE)

(TWO SHOT)

You'd better get the inmates back
to their cells so we can take a
final count --

KROSS:

They're still taking out victims -

HUGH:

They'll be taking us out if we
don't stop Kendall...

-83-

ACT III - 13

KROSS:

Kendall?

HUGH:

He just phoned his paper that six
dangerous criminals have escaped
already --

KROSS:

Does he know that for a fact?

HUGH:

Search me. But when that story
hits the newsstands ...

KROSS:

I'll talk to him ...

(PAN WITH HER AS SHE CROSSES TO
KENDALL)

(HE IS INTERVIEWING A PATIENT, ALONG
WITH OTHER REPORTERS)

KENDALL:

... and what happened after you
felt the impact?

SURVIVOR:

... there was this flash in the
back of the plane, I think it was,
and a big hole ... I threw my baby
out onto the snow and then climbed

-84-

ACT III - 14

SURVIVOR: (Cont'd)

out after her. One of the prisoners helped me ...

KENDALL:

Did he molest you in any way ...?

KROSS:

Mr. Kendall ...

KENDALL:

Yes?

(BRIGGS COMES UP)

BRIGGS:

Commissioner, what about these escaped convicts?

KROSS:

I'd like a word with you boys
on that subject --

KENDALL:

I'll be right back, Miss ...

(THE REPORTERS STEP TO ONE SIDE FOR A THREE-SHOT WITH THE COMMIS-SIONER.)

KROSS:

I'd like to know where you got
the report that inmates are
escaping.

-85-

ACT III - 15

KENDALL:

I'm not accountable to you,
Commissioner.

KROSS:

You're accountable to these men.
They're risking their lives to
save people! Can't you think
about anything but headlines? --

KENDALL:

Now just a minute ...

KROSS:

No, you're going to hear me out,
Kendall. In the name of common
decency, I ask you not to print
that story until we take a final
count of the inmates.

KENDALL:

Are you trying to intimidate
the press, Commissioner?

KROSS:

I'm just trying to see that these
men get the proper recognition
for what they're doing here. A
story like that can turn public
opinion overnight --

-86-

ACT III - 16

BRIGGS:

The lady's right. You don't know
that anybody's escaped. Why don't
you get the facts before you shoot
your mouth off? Even you ought
to be able to see what's going
on here.

KENDALL: (CONSIDERS)

O.K. I'll phone the paper to
hold it. But let me say this
-- if it turns out to be true
we're going after your depart-
ment hammer and tongs!

(SHE WALKS AWAY)

(KENDALL GOES BACK TO THE PHONE)

(HE DIALS)

KENDALL:

Charley? Hold the escape story,
we have to wait for a final count
of the inmates. Of course it's
true, but hold it anyway. I've
got some real fine human interest
stuff though -

-87-

ACT III - 17

**DISSOLVE:**

(FILM) (SURVIVORS BEING CARRIED OFF,
STRETCHER, POLICEMEN, ETC., ETC.)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

Rescue operations continued thru
the night. Eighty one passengers
were saved from death. Twenty
did not survive.

(FILM)

(THE GUTTED PLANE WRECKAGE)

(AVAILABLE FROM CBS)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

When dawn broke, this was all
that remained of a once-beauti-
ful silver ship.

(CELLBLOCK. MEN COME IN THROUGH
THE DOOR AND ARE CHECKED OFF BY A
GUARD. WARDEN HARRISON WATCHES
ANXIOUSLY)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

The last of the inmates who had
been out searching for survivors

-90-

ACT III - 20

KENDALL:

Almost time for the morning edi-
tion, Commissioner ...

KROSS:

What's keeping Harrison?

(HUGH SHAKES HIS HEAD)

(THE DOOR OPENS. HARRISON COMES IN.
THEY JUMP TO THEIR FEET)

Well?

HARRISON: (SMILES)

Every single man accounted for.

There was a John Batavia missing
but he turned up in the hospital
with a burned leg.

(RELIEF ON THEIR FACES)

KROSS:

Would you like to call your paper,
Mr. Kendall?

(SHE HANDS HIM THE PHONE)

DISSOLVE:

(MONTAGE OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES,
LAUDING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE INMATES
OF RIKERS ISLAND IN THE PLANE CRASH)

-91-

ACT III - 21

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

Morning editions including
Kendall's paper were unanimous
in praising the work of the in-
mates during the crash. Commis-
sioner Kross announced that every
inmate who participated would
be interviewed and a recommenda-
tion made to the parole board
based on his contribution.

DISSOLVE

(FROM HEADLINES TO HOSPITAL EXAM-
INING ROOM. LUKE BENNETT COMES
IN. DOCTOR IS SEATED AT DESK.
LUKE WEARS HIS GOING HOME SUIT)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

For inmate Luke Bennett, the
Rikers Island rescue had been
an important experience --

LUKE:

Doctor?

(DOC LOOKS UP)

I just wanted to say goodbye.

-93-

ACT III - 23

(DOOR OPENS AND MATT COMES IN, HIS
ARM IN A SLING)

MOLLY:

Oh, Matt ...

(SHE REACHES TOWARD HIM)

I can touch you.

(THEY EMBRACE. TWO-SHOT)

MATT:

The Commissioner talked to us
this morning. She says I stand
a pretty good chance to get out..

(SHE CAN'T TALK, JUST SHAKES HER
HEAD)

They're gonna work fast, she
says.

(MOLLY STEPS BACK, SERIOUS)

MOLLY:

Matt -- (PAUSE) I told her.

(HE IS ALARMED)

I had to Matt, it was the right
time. She was proud, honest.

All the kids were talkin' about
it, it was in the newspapers.

She -- she says she's gonna
write you a letter and it's
gonna start "Dear Daddy".

-94-

ACT III - 24

(HE HAS TURNED HIS HEAD ASIDE.
SHE TOUCHES HIS ARM)

MOLLY: (Cont'd)

Matt? Are you sore? I mean ..
(HE SHAKES HIS HEAD" NO", OVERCOME
BY HIS FEELINGS)

MATT:

Like I told the Doc when they
interviewed me - you feel like
a man again, you know? To be
of help -- you know ...?

DISSOLVE:

(TABLE IN ANNA KROSS'S OFFICE. A
COMMITTEE, CONSISTING OF THE COM-
MISSIONER, HUGH, WARDEN, HARRISON,
AND THE DOCTOR, SITS AT THE TABLE)

(AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TABLE
IS A CHAIR WHERE INMATES WILL SIT
AND ANSWER QUESTIONS)

(WHEN WE FADE UP, THE OFFICIALS ARE
LOOKING OVER SOME DOCUMENTS. AN
INMATE JULIO RAMIREZ HAS JUST FIN-
ISHED THE QUESTIONING SESSION.)

-97-

ACT III - 27

JOHNNY:

Maybe I'm getting soft in the
head.

KROSS:

No. There was something in John
Batavia that did it. That's the
something that interests me most.

JOHN:

(TAKES A LONG DRAG)

O.K. I figure this citizen is
dead, see? But then I see he
ain't, he's still alive. In
my book, if a guy is still alive,
you don't just leave him to rot.
See?

(CAMERA PULLS BACK AWAY FROM JOHNNY,
BACK PAST THE OTHERS AND THE COM-
MISSIONER WHO SITS FACING JOHN AT
THE END OF THE TABLE)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

Though John Batavia's parole was
turned down and he is still con-
fined to Rikers Island, he is a
most important human being to
the New York Department of Correc-
tion, which believes, to use

-98-

ACT III - 28

SWAYZE: (O.S.) (Cont'd)

Johnny's own words "if a guy is
still alive, you don't just leave
him to rot".

DISSOLVE:

(PLANE ENGINES IN FULL. FILM)

(PLANE LIFTING OFF RUNWAY, CLEAR
WEATHER)

SWAYZE: (O.S.)

The big ships are still lifting
off the runways at La Guardia,
almost one every minute. The
sound of their engines fills
the cellblocks at Rikers Island..

(PAN THE FACES OF THE PRINCIPAL
CHARACTERS ... THEY LOOK UP TOWARD
THE SOUND OF THE PLANES)

(LUKE, MATT, JOHNNY, IN THAT ORDER)

They remind those men of what it
was like for one brief moment -
and these are the words of Matt
Quinn - 'to be of help - to feel
like a man again.'

(FADE TO BLACK)

FINIS