Invisible Stripes

Hello, Mac. Got a new crop for you.

Business is getting good. We're crowded out.

Come on, Peter, open up.

Well, well, if some of the boys ain't come back home.

- Hello, Peter, how are you? - Hello, Pauly.

- Hello, Smitty. - Hello, Peter.

Well, well, you did hurry back, didn't you? What you got?

- Come on. Get going. - Oh, well, don't worry.

The longer the term, the more good time they gotta give you.

My, quite a mess of new fish too.

Hey, I heard you made it.

They had me scared just like you said. Those guys on the board are tough.

If they smile, they'd fall off their seats.

What do you want?

Kiss you for serving your time?

It's the waiting that gets you. You answer the questions...

...they look over the papers, while you wait and wonder if it'll be no.

They must have a record of every time you blow your nose.

Yeah, they got more than that.

What a day. One year I waited for this.

You got another year on parole.

Ah, that don't mean anything.

Say, it's great you and me going out together.

Hey, pipe down. Here's some new guys just come in.

- Hi, Alec. - Hello, Chuck.

What'd they slap on you?

The judge threw the book at me. Twenty-eight years.

- That's tough. - What's the difference?

I get my three squares a day.

That's more than I was getting on the outside.

- You going out? - Yeah, I just finished five.

Well, I'll still be here when you come back.

- Well, Taylor, are you ready to go out? - Yes, sir.

We're putting half the responsibility back on your shoulders again.

Because you've earned it.

And if you show as good a record in the next year,

we'll put the whole load back on.

I hope you'll be able to carry it.

Now, I'm not going to burden you with a lot of advice.

If I'm any judge of men, you don't need it.

You're going to your family and to a job.

- And there's a girl there too isn't there? - Yes, sir.

Fine. I think we've been able to help you lose your bitterness...

...and to find another way of looking at organized society.

Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail.

A lot of it is up to the man himself.

I should be greatly disappointed if we failed in your case.

Listen, warden, you don't have to worry about me.

I learned my lesson some time ago. I won't be back.

No, I don't think you will.

And just remember this, I'd like to be your friend.

I'd like you to promise me that if the time comes...

...when you're ready to, well, kick it over again...

...you come and tell me about it first.

- It's a deal. - Goodbye, Taylor.

- And good luck. - Thanks, warden.

Send in Chuck Martin.

Well, Martin?

- You wanna see me? - Thought we'd have a little talk.

What about? I done my full time.

The way I look at it, me and the State is quits.

That's too bad.

If there was any way I could do it, I'd hold you here, you know that.

Yeah, I know that. But there ain't no way.

- Martin, haven't you had enough? - What, enough of this? Yeah.

The way I look at it, it ought to take two to make a deal.

Ought to be a question of give and take. That ain't the way it's been.

Nobody give me nothing. All I've been doing is taking it.

What gripes you is I know my side of the fence and I'll stay on it.

I wouldn't relish the idea of one day escorting you to the electric chair, Chuck.

There ain't nothing you and I can do about it.

All right, Martin. Goodbye.

- Sorry I can't wish you luck. - It's okay with me.

Just as long as we understand each other.

So long, warden, see you in church.

All right, Peter, open up.

Have a good time, boys.

But don't stay away too long.

- So long, Peter. - You'll be back.

You'll be back.

Yes, sir.

She's gotta have gold hair. Real gold.

The kind that ain't hard and coarse when you touch it.

Long legs and smooth white arms.

Take it easy.

I was just thinking.

Think about something else.

Why?

You know, I feel sorry for you.

You'll have parole agents on your tail thicker than flies.

They can camp in my pockets if they want.

That stuff you give the warden, you mean that?

- Going straight? - Yeah.

Sure.

Gonna roll up your sleeves, start pitching.

Pick up where you left off. Start off clean again, is that it?

You think I'm nuts.

Well, that's all right if you go for it.

You can swallow that guff the doc and the warden hand out. But not me.

I've been out before.

You think changing your uniform means anything?

You'll still be wearing stripes.

You may not be able to see them but they'd be there all right.

A guy I knew once made a crack.

He said, "There's theorists and there's realists."

Me, I'm one of them there realists.

Hello, old man Peter.

Open up those golden gates.

Maybe.

It all depends on how smart you are and what breaks you get.

I'm gonna make them pay for every day I spent in that crummy stir.

Yeah.

You know, she ought to wear one of them strapless evening gowns.

Yes, sir, that would be fun.

Mom?

Hello, Mom.

Cliff.

Cliff.

Oh, Cliff...

...you're home again.

Yeah.

Home.

That's funny. I used to think this was just a dump.

I didn't think it was big enough for me.

And now it's--

What have you done to it?

Why, it's just the same as it always was, Cliff.

Yeah, maybe it is.

I never noticed it.

I won't forget again.

I know, Cliff.

You're the same old Mom.

Everything's the same, son. Nothing's changed.

Nothing?

It's been a long time.

Cliff...

...do you remember when you were a little fellow...

...your uncle took you into the country for a vacation?

Yeah, I remember.

Well, I cried that day.

Then I said to myself:

"He's gone away just for a little while and he'll be home in a couple of days."

It made the time pass that much quicker.

Ever since then, whenever you've gone away I've said:

"He'll be home in a couple of days."

And I never cried anymore.

Now here you are, home again.

And you've only been gone a couple of days.

Do you understand, Cliff?

Yeah, I understand.

Just a couple of days.

Hello, Cliff.

Hello, Tim.

Gee, you look swell.

Yeah, so do you.

Why, look at them, standing there like a couple of strangers.

You wouldn't believe it.

Tim's been waiting the whole week for you to get back.

Go on, say something. He's only your brother.

He won't bite you.

Cliff knows how I feel.

Sure, kid. And it goes double for me.

- Hello, Cliff. - Hello, Peggy.

I'm awfully glad you're back home.

Gee, you look swell. Didn't she blossom out?

Oh, aren't you gonna kiss him, Peggy? What's the matter with all of you?

Oh, I'm gonna get the dinner on the table.

- Well, I'll help. - No, no, you stay here.

When are you two kids gonna get married?

Yeah, when?

Oh, there's lots of time to get married.

After all, you've got to realize a girl likes long engagements.

Sure, very fashionable.

We like being very fashionable.

Well, I think I'll go and help with the dinner.

Oh, how it feels to be here.

Tim?

I can't start to tell you.

Maybe Mom was right about my not knowing what to say.

I felt kind of foolish.

Gee, Cliff, this joint's been lonesome without you.

No man around the house to talk things over with.

I even missed your taking a crack at me when I'd get out of line.

Sure, I know. I felt the same way.

How is your job?

All right, it's a job.

You don't like it?

Oh, I do it. I get paid for it.

I don't have to like it.

How is mine?

It doesn't pay much either.

I'll still like it. I only had one year in the shop but--

It's buttons, I tell you.

That must be Sue. She said she was coming down right after work.

Hello, honey.

Cliff, take it easy.

You look fine, Cliff.

- Hello, Mrs. Taylor. - Hello, you're just in time.

- Hello, Tim. - Hi.

Now we can all sit down.