Mrs. Soffel

'My sweet Jesus.'

'We pray once more for Ed and Jack Biddle.'

Hear my plea for your lost lambs, father.

Suffering injustice

at the hands of evil, unrighteous men.

Give those boys strength, Jesus.

Show them mercy.

'Fill their hearts with the hope'

'that only you can give, dear Jesus.'

'You know their innocence.'

'If there is a way, if it is your will..'

'...do not let them die.'

'They do not deserve to die, Jesus.'

'Dear father'

'hear my plea for your lost lambs.'

'Hear my..'

'Go back to bed now.'

'All of you! Go on.'

'Get back to bed, Clarence.'

'Go on.'

'Peter.'

'I dreamt that I was lost in snowstorm.'

'And I couldn't breathe.'

'Somebody pulled me out to a clear spot.'

Lord, Kate.

'Poor Peter. I wear you out.'

- No. - 'Peter?'

'Here, drink this. It'll help you sleep.'

Peter.

I know what the dream means.

I'm gonna get better.

God was telling me

'he's not gonna let me die.'

Yes, yes.

Yes. Drink this now.

Go on.

'Drink this. It'll help you sleep.'

'Go on, now. Go on.'

'Express! Biddles' appeal today!'

'Morning Express!'

Thank you, son.

Here we go..

Move it along, please.

...at the hands of evil, unrighteous men..

Alright, Mrs.. Move!

Hurry, kids. Get out of the street.

'Free the Biddles! Free the Biddles!'

'Free the Biddles! Free the Biddles!'

I'm sorry, Jessie. I asked, and they said no.

I just want to see him.

I know you do. Sorry.

Let's go over there. Sir, sir?

Excuse me, sir.

- I made this for Ed. - For you.

No, thanks. I can't. It's against the rules.

Would you please give this to Jack?

- Just for us. - I'm sorry, I can't.

Please, sir?

'Good morning, pinhead!'

'Thank you!'

Bloody kids!

'No, I'll never shoot another!'

'Clarence Soffel, you've been so bad!'

'Please, please. Please don't kill me!'

I'll take you away to Murderers' Row

and lock you up forever and ever.

I'll never shoot anyone again! Please!

'Let's hope that the governor will see it our way.'

Clarence! Scat!

Hurry! Hurry!

I'm sorry, boys. Really sorry. We did the best we could.

I mean, yes, you get the two of us hanged for the one murder.

That's a pretty neat trick.

- Thanks. - Come on, boys.

Hey, fellas, don't forget to send us your bill.

'Margaret, Eddie, Clarence.'

'I understand you were playing in an area'

where you're not allowed, and now you're late for school.

Is that right?

Three little criminals.

Do you children understand how hard your sister works

to take care of you and me and your poor mama?

And when you do something that's disruptive and wrong

'you have to be punished, don't you?'

- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.

'Answer papa, Margaret.'

I'm thinking.

Well, I think the sentence can be suspended

'this time, court is dismissed.'

Mama! Mama, you're up! Are you better?

Yes, I'm better. I'm all better.

Mama, what are you doing out of bed?

I'm all well.

Daddy suspended us from our punishment.

Did he?

'Irene, tell Maggie to fetch the doctor.'

Oh, no. Really, Peter.

He never knew what was wrong with me.

I don't see what he can do for me now.

How can anyone be sick in bed for three months

and suddenly get up one morning and say she's fine?

- It doesn't make sense. - Please, Peter.

I don't need to see the doctor.

Well, then everyone better get off to school then.

Come on, come on, they're late already.

Come on, lamebrain.

- Who appointed you warden? - You Clarence.

You hush up.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Harold.

It's good to have you back, Mrs. Soffel.

Would you like a Bible?

'I've been getting sick'

'of all these boys and their ugly faces.'

It never changes, does it, George?

No, ma'am, I suppose not.

'Why don't you come up here'

'and visit with me, cutie?'

- You hush up! - Good afternoon.

Why, Lenny, I thought you left us last September.

Mrs. Soffel, they can always find something to blame

on an honest fellow like me.

But you'll be pleased to hear I went to church

four times when I was out.

It doesn't look like it did you much good.

I need a quarter from you, George, for the pool.

You get on with your work.

He gives me the willies.

Betting on when somebody's gonna hang.

- Mrs. Soffel. - Hello.

Thanks.

- Thank you. - Thanks.

'Why, Charlie, leave 'em be. They ain't hurting nothing.'

Warden Soffel believes

a man's cell reflects a man's moral character.

'We haven't got any moral character, Charlie.'

We're murderers. Ain't that right, Jackie?

Does your brother always fight your battles for you, Jackie?

Hey!

Get in there! Go on!

You're dead.

Oh, I hear it's the other way around, Eddie.

Stand back from the door for inspection.

- Ed! - Jesus!

'No!'

'Stop it!'

Stop it!

Get up!

- Mrs. Soffel, you're bleeding! - No.

- You're hurt. - No, no. It's his blood.

Easy!

Easy!

'Leave him be, you bastards!'

You'd better give me your arm, ma'am. You look a little pale.

No. No, thank you, Mr. Reynolds.

Here, wipe your face.

- Go on, go on. Go on. - Thank you.

Mrs. Soffel, Warden Soffel's wife.

Go tell the warden we got a prisoner who needs cooling off--

'You started it!'

We've got four more cells down there!

'Never mind, Jack.'

'A couple of hungry days will do Eddie's soul good.'

'Where'd you get that scar on your face, Mr. Biddle?'

When they arrested me and Jack.

'They shot you?'

No, ma'am, I shot myself. I meant to kill myself.

'Don't you read the papers?'

Well, I'm very sorry.

What are you sorry for?

Would you like a Bible, Mr. Biddle?

What are you sorry for?

- 'Cause we're gonna hang? - 'Yes.'

Don't you think murderers ought to be hanged?

I don't believe in hanging. Take it.

- You want a Bible, Jack? - No. I want a smoke.

No, thank you, ma'am.

We're gonna die, but we're not that desperate.

Mrs. Soffel, the warden says to put him in.

Well, Jack, at least I won't have to listen

to you snore tonight.

That's right.

Mrs. Soffel?

What kind of flower would you say that is, right there?

I don't know.

Would you say that that's a violet?

I think it's a violet, don't you?

- Yes. - I think so, too.

George said you met the Biddles today.

- Don't you think Ed's handsome? - Not especially.