Touched by an Angel

If you'd wait over here for Officer Johnson.

Oh, okay.

Ready for a new assignment, baby?

Tess, how does anyone end up in a place like this?

Well, that's what you're here to find out:

Where things went wrong and how to put 'em right.

But there's no way out of death row, is there?

Oh, there's always a way out of the prisons

that people find themselves in, baby.

Now, remember, you have Andrew and me as backup

while you're inside.

You're the journalist?

Yes. I'm Monica.

Johnson.

No pencils, pens, sharp metal objects or straps.

Don't speak to or acknowledge nobody

till you're told.

All right?

I've been here 16 years.

Nobody but clergy ever allowed on the row before.

You must have some serious clout.

Clout?

Yes, I suppose I do.

That's the hospitality room.

Where they...?

Execute.

Well, they just transferred in your boy.

He's a cop-killer.

Cold-blooded and hotheaded.

No hope in hell for a monster like that.

There's no hope in hell for anyone.

Pull your hair back. Don't lean in too close.

Hello.

I told you, no talking to anybody.

Especially to Willis.

His time is up, and he doesn't need a journalist.

He needs a miracle.

I don't want visitors.

I want a damn watch.

Most guys get scared when they only have four days left.

Not Willis, he just gets meaner.

Gimme a watch!

What's a matter, Willis?

You wanna watch time go slipping away?

Here we go.

Luther!

You got a guest.

Meet Luther Dixon,

the youngest inmate on death row.

( Della Reese & The Verity All-Stars' "Walk With You" playing )

I'm Monica.

I think you were expecting me.

How much chips you gettin' to tell my story?

Chips?

I don't understand.

Well, why don't you come a little closer,

and I'll kill you like I killed that cop.

Shot him dead in the streets

and watched the blood run out of him.

I thought you told the judge

you weren't the one who pulled the trigger?

Get outta here, lady! No chips, no story.

I don't know what chips are.

Well, do you have a Snickers?

What?

Candy.

Baby boy wants candy.

They give out candy to the kids in the juvenile hall.

You've been in the juvie so much, Luther,

your teeth probably all rotted.

You're in with the big boys now,

and you're never gonna see candy again.

They have nuts in them, right?

The candy bars you like, nuts and chocolate,

kind of sticky.

You gonna talk to the lady or not, Luther?

Get her outta here, man. She must be crazy.

All right. Let's go.

If you did have a candy bar in here,

where would you keep it?

Under your pillow, maybe?

You must be trippin' or something.

So do what you gotta do.

I need to ask you some questions,

and I need you to tell me the truth.

And how you gonna know the difference?

The truth will get you another candy bar.

Yo, how'd you do that?

If you tell me the truth now,

I'll tell you the truth later.

Who's that?

That's my little brother, Samuel.

He must miss you very much.

I taught him what he needed to know.

Got him corded on real good.

"Corded on"?

In the gang.

Look, you gonna listen to me or what?

How old is Sam?

About 11... 12...

And he's in a gang?

I mean, you in the set, you in the gang.

And the set is?

The 'hood, lady.

Look, you wearin' me out here, all right?

I'm sorry.

So everybody joins a gang because...?

No gang, no respect.

Gotta start jackin', you know what I'm saying?

How else you gonna make the big green?

There you go. Thank you.

Well, I am ready to get started.

You are one sorry-looking angel.

Tess...

did anybody tell you exactly why I'm here?

Well, I figure the Angel of Death

doesn't have too many options.

Well, no, no, but...

See, I've got some preliminary work to do

that maybe you haven't been filled in on.

You do your job and I'll do mine.

Tess, I'm supposed to borrow...

There he is.

How much time do we have?

Just under four days.

Four days to change a generation?

I guess that's why they call them miracles.

Hey, you!

Come back here right now!

You bring that back here right now, you rascal!

Andrew, they...

My car!

Somebody stole my baby!

Oh, Lord, take me home!

Where's Deonne?

He's gone.

I'm here. What's it to you?

Just had a little business to do with him.

What a bucket.

Ho-ho-ho! Where's your car?

Or do you just have a dashboard cover and no car?

Man, this thing needs some work. New plugs, re-wiring...

Battery's no good.

How come you know so much about cars?

My brother Luther taught me before he got busted.

Oh, so Luther's in the 'pen, huh?

He's on the row. Youngest one ever.

Too bad Luther didn't stick to fixing cars.

You know, I could use some help around here.

What do you say...

five bucks an hour?

That's baby tooth. I could make that in two minutes.

Stealing dashboard covers?

You be needing some protection on the street.

You wanna pay for that?

Samuel!

Samuel, I told you to come right home after school.

Where's your homework?

Why you dumping on my case?

I'll get it done!

I want you home now.

Where's Deonne?

Retired.

We don't want people like you and him

doing business around here.

It's not that kind of business anymore.

You just make sure it isn't.

You stole my car!

You stole it and then you killed it!

Will you look at this?

The Angel of Death done killed my car.

That car was spotless!

And it will be again too. I promise.

Ooh! I promise.

Ooh!

Well, I was about 12 when I start jackin' parts.

Then me and the homies felt, you know,

it was time for the bigger chips.

So I start sellin' heats.

So you stole pieces of automobiles

and sold them for money,

and then you and your fellow gang colleagues

advanced to buying and selling firearms?

Yeah, you know, I sure miss my homies, though.

Wish one of them fools would shoot me a kite.

Oh, Mama.

Mama, write me a letter, Mama,

I been here two whole days, and I'm so lonely.

You gonna get a lot lonelier, punk.

Yo, you better shut up, homey! I'm tellin' you, man!