Amazing Stories (1985–1987): Season 2, Episode 7 - Life on Death Row - full transcript
Years before The Green Mile, a murderer on death row finds himself infused with the incredible power to heal by touch. A desperate race to halt his execution builds to a miraculous climax.
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Man #1 ]
Um, is there an... "H"?
[ Man #2 ]
Yes, there's an "H."
There's an "H"
right here. Good.
There you go.
"C," "R," "M," "E," and...
"P" "S," "H," "N," "T."
- Mm-hmm.
- Um, hmm.
"Crme and Pshnt."
- No.
- Shoot. Uh--
[ Man #2 ]
Come on now.
Try it again.
Chrome and
"passion-ment!"
I don't know.
Come on, Bradshaw!
It's Crime and Punishment!
- It's a book!
- I don't read no books.
- What do they teach you
in school?
- Pledge Allegiance.
[ Man ]
Reception, this is tower.
Inmate coining in.
Petersen, Eric David.
Number 49292.
One State Marshal escort
accompanying.
- Roger, Tower, we copy.
- [ Laughs ]
Petersen's back.
[ Buzzer Buzzes ]
- [ Thunder Rumbles ]
- [ Door Closes ]
Hi, guys. That road's
just about gone!
- Got one coming home.
- [ Bradshaw Chuckles ]
Not for long.
Hey, Petersen!
I guess that little
heart-to-heart you had...
with the governor
didn't cut much ice.
Well, it's good to see
we finally
got a governor...
who ain't gonna
let a killer get off
without paying in full.
Knock it off,
Bradshaw.
[ Thunder Rumbles ]
All right. It's after 11:00.
The Row's locked down
for the night.
We're gonna have
to put you in D-Unit
till morning.
Here.
Come on in.
[ Jingling ]
What'd he do, anyway?
Well, hell, he's the guy that
did that armored-car holdup
couple years back.
The one where
that guard got wasted.
- Well, tomorrow'll
be his turn.
- Yep.
Is there anybody
you want me to contact?
Anybody you want to see?
Can I call
somebody for you?
Look, just shut up
and leave me alone.
Tomorrow night,
they pull the switch.
I'm gone.
And the world
keeps spinning.
Everybody's life
means something.
Yeah?
Well, mine never did.
[ Doors Slamming ]
Donnelly?
[ Buzzes ]
Well, lookee here.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chains Jingle ]
Now that's a single room,
right, Mr. Petersen?
For one night.
[ Chuckles ]
Come on, Petersen!
Go for it!
[ Keys Jingle ]
[ Unlocks ]
Open it.
Sleep tight.
[ Match Flares ]
[ Thunder Rumbles ]
[ Mug Clatters ]
[ Buzzer Buzzes ]
[ Muttering ]
Hurry.
[ Whispering ]
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
- Who the hell are you?
- I'm with you.
Just keep your mouth shut.
[ Man ]
Come on. Hurry!
Come on. Come on!
- Come on! Get!
- Go! Go!
Damn lightning!
- Go! Go!
- [ Screams ]
- [ Siren Wails ]
- Go! Go!
- Come on, guys.
- Go! Go! Go!
- [ Wailing Continues ]
- [ Chattering ]
[ Gunfire ]
[ Shouts ]
- [ Gunshot ]
- [ Shouts ]
[ Shouts ]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[ Screams ]
All are sedated,
and most have only
superficial wounds.
But Fowler has
multiple gunshot wounds
to the abdomen.
I've stabilized him
as much as possible.
Without emergency surgery,
my guess is he's gonna
be gone in 30 minutes.
[ Gasping ]
[ Ragged Breathing ]
- Help.
- Hey. Hey, cool it, man.
Hey, what are you--
Hey, lay down!
Hey, hey.
[ Zaps ]
Man, wha--
Hey, hey. Lay down.
Lay down.
[ Zaps ]
Wha-- Wha--
- Petersen!
- Huh?
What happened here?
- What did you do?
- I-- I don't know.
Don't know? What do you mean?
What do you mean
you don't know?
- I don't know!
- What the--
There's no pain.
There's no pain.
There's no pain
in my leg.
[ Chuckles ]
What did you do?
[ Chuckling ]
There's no pain
in my leg!
I didn't do nothing.
- You fixed it!
- I swear I didn't.
I didn't do nothin'.
Now listen.
He pressed his hands
against Fowler's body,
and there was this
charge of electricity--
of-of energy.
In a few seconds,
the man was healed!
I'm telling you.
His-- His guts
were falling out...
and Petersen
put him back together.
You saw him, Doc!
Right?
I mean--
I mean, look at him!
And look at me.
Twenty years with
a hunk of shrapnel...
twisted in the muscles
of this leg...
and now it's gone.
He fixed my leg!
- Meadows, I'm glad
you think you feel better.
- I don't just think!
But your claim
that this man
heals with a touch--
It's not just a claim.
Here, watch.
Come over here.
Here.
Hi, Johnny.
How's the arthritis today?
It's bad.
Hurts like hell
most of the time.
Petersen, come on.
No. No.
[ Panting ]
I-- I don't understand
what's going on.
But I am not gonna
put on a show for him!
You are not gonna
change your mind about me.
[ Panting ]
Look, God or devil,
I didn't ask
to be able to do this.
I just want--
I just want to go
back to my cell...
and be left alone
until my time tomorrow.
Don't do it to show him.
Do it to help Johnny.
Good God, man,
if you can stop
this pain,
please,
stop the hurting.
You can help him.
Come on.
[ Sighs ]
Come on. You can help him.
You have to help him.
That's it.
[ Zaps ]
[ Laughs ]
My hands!
Look at my hands!
I got new hands!
I got new hands!
Look at my hands!
Look at my hands!
[ Laughing ]
[ Meadows ]
Warden, the man's
touch can heal.
You saw it for yourself.
He may've taken a life
four years ago,
but now he can give life.
You can't let him die.
You've got to call
the governor.
[ Man ]
Come on, brother!
Heal me, man!
- Petersen! Come on!
- Come on! Touch me, man!
- Got to help me, man.
- What do they want
from me?
I just wish
they'd leave me alone.
Leave you alone?
They can't
leave you alone.
Not now.
You have a gift.
[ Water Running ]
Life is just
full of surprises.
That's all.
[ Sniffs ]
Why? Why me?
Why now?
I don't have an answer
for that one.
I mean this-- this--
this power belongs with
someone on the outside,
not somebody in here
waitin' to die.
You know, maybe--
Maybe you're not
supposed to go around
healing the whole world.
Just help as many
as you can.
What? These guys?
You saw the look
on Johnny's face
when you touched him,
when you took away
the pain.
Yeah, and what good
is it gonna do him?
Do as much as you can
for the others
in the time you have.
Just take away
the pain.
Petersen, Warden
wants to see you.
[ Door Locks ]
Sit down.
We both know since
you've arrived here,
that I've done
everything in my power...
to block commutation
of your sentence.
I've spoken against you...
both to the prison commission
and the governor.
You see, I believe
in capital punishment.
- That hasn't changed.
- [ Chuckles ]
I'll be honest with you.
I don't know
if there's anything
I can do to help you.
But I'll call
the governor today.
I'll even make a statement
to the press if I have to.
And I give you
my solemn promise...
that I will do everything
in the time remaining...
to try and save you.
Honey.
This is my daughter.
She's six years old.
She's been blind
the last four.
Daddy, who's this?
Well, sweetheart,
this is, uh--
A friend. I'm a friend
of your father's.
My name's Casey.
What's yours?
Eric.
My name's Eric.
I'll do all
that I can, Eric.
I mean, you understand,
I can't promise you
anything.
[ Whispers ]
It's okay.
It's okay, sweetheart.
[ Zapping ]
[ Men Shouting,
Overlapping ]
Petersen! Petersen!
Just a flash, right here.
- Over here.
- Touch me, man.
[ Shouting, Indistinct ]
I appreciate that,
Governor.
Yeah. But we're talking
about minutes now.
I have statements from
ten witnesses who saw it,
from beginning to end.
I know. I know.
You know my position
on that.
But these are
extraordinary
circumstances.
"Thou, fool,
that which thou sowest
is not quickened,
except it die."
[ Petersen ]
What time is it, Father?
11:48.
Twelve minutes.
You've done an awful lot
of good today, Eric.
A lot of good.
I did, didn't I?
[ Clanks ]
Uh, Eric,
I'm sorry.
It's funny.
All of a sudden,
I'm not so, uh,
interested
in being alone.
[ Doors Slamming ]
[ Ragged Breathing ]
[ Clock Chimes ]
[ Electricity Whirs ]
I'm sorry, Petersen.
[ Clears Throat ]
It's just not fair.
[ Clears Throat ]
I mean, all the people
you could've helped.
- It's just not right.
- [ Zaps ]
My God!
[ Zapping ]
Hey! Come here!
Come here. Come here.
Hurry!
Come over here!
Weren't you in the line up
this morning? With the arm?
- Yes.
- All right.
Touch his arm.
[ Puts Down Object ]
- Come on.
- Isn't that--
Yes, he is.
Grab his arm.
Come on! Come on!
- Open it up, Donnelly.
- What's going on,
Meadows?
Open up.
Open up the block.
No way, man!
Not a chance!
For once in your life,
just do something right.
[ Buzzes ]
Get hold of him.
Touch him.
- Come on, you guys.
- What are you
talking about?
Just grab a piece.
Hold on. That's it.
That's it.
Touch him. Come on.
Everybody.
You too. Touch.
Just hold him.
Touch him.
Everybody.
[ Zapping ]
What the hell
is goin' on here?
My God.
What on earth
do we do now?
[ No Audible Dialogue ]
[ Man #1 ]
Um, is there an... "H"?
[ Man #2 ]
Yes, there's an "H."
There's an "H"
right here. Good.
There you go.
"C," "R," "M," "E," and...
"P" "S," "H," "N," "T."
- Mm-hmm.
- Um, hmm.
"Crme and Pshnt."
- No.
- Shoot. Uh--
[ Man #2 ]
Come on now.
Try it again.
Chrome and
"passion-ment!"
I don't know.
Come on, Bradshaw!
It's Crime and Punishment!
- It's a book!
- I don't read no books.
- What do they teach you
in school?
- Pledge Allegiance.
[ Man ]
Reception, this is tower.
Inmate coining in.
Petersen, Eric David.
Number 49292.
One State Marshal escort
accompanying.
- Roger, Tower, we copy.
- [ Laughs ]
Petersen's back.
[ Buzzer Buzzes ]
- [ Thunder Rumbles ]
- [ Door Closes ]
Hi, guys. That road's
just about gone!
- Got one coming home.
- [ Bradshaw Chuckles ]
Not for long.
Hey, Petersen!
I guess that little
heart-to-heart you had...
with the governor
didn't cut much ice.
Well, it's good to see
we finally
got a governor...
who ain't gonna
let a killer get off
without paying in full.
Knock it off,
Bradshaw.
[ Thunder Rumbles ]
All right. It's after 11:00.
The Row's locked down
for the night.
We're gonna have
to put you in D-Unit
till morning.
Here.
Come on in.
[ Jingling ]
What'd he do, anyway?
Well, hell, he's the guy that
did that armored-car holdup
couple years back.
The one where
that guard got wasted.
- Well, tomorrow'll
be his turn.
- Yep.
Is there anybody
you want me to contact?
Anybody you want to see?
Can I call
somebody for you?
Look, just shut up
and leave me alone.
Tomorrow night,
they pull the switch.
I'm gone.
And the world
keeps spinning.
Everybody's life
means something.
Yeah?
Well, mine never did.
[ Doors Slamming ]
Donnelly?
[ Buzzes ]
Well, lookee here.
[ Chuckles ]
[ Chains Jingle ]
Now that's a single room,
right, Mr. Petersen?
For one night.
[ Chuckles ]
Come on, Petersen!
Go for it!
[ Keys Jingle ]
[ Unlocks ]
Open it.
Sleep tight.
[ Match Flares ]
[ Thunder Rumbles ]
[ Mug Clatters ]
[ Buzzer Buzzes ]
[ Muttering ]
Hurry.
[ Whispering ]
Come on. Come on.
Come on.
- Who the hell are you?
- I'm with you.
Just keep your mouth shut.
[ Man ]
Come on. Hurry!
Come on. Come on!
- Come on! Get!
- Go! Go!
Damn lightning!
- Go! Go!
- [ Screams ]
- [ Siren Wails ]
- Go! Go!
- Come on, guys.
- Go! Go! Go!
- [ Wailing Continues ]
- [ Chattering ]
[ Gunfire ]
[ Shouts ]
- [ Gunshot ]
- [ Shouts ]
[ Shouts ]
[ Gunfire Continues ]
[ Screams ]
All are sedated,
and most have only
superficial wounds.
But Fowler has
multiple gunshot wounds
to the abdomen.
I've stabilized him
as much as possible.
Without emergency surgery,
my guess is he's gonna
be gone in 30 minutes.
[ Gasping ]
[ Ragged Breathing ]
- Help.
- Hey. Hey, cool it, man.
Hey, what are you--
Hey, lay down!
Hey, hey.
[ Zaps ]
Man, wha--
Hey, hey. Lay down.
Lay down.
[ Zaps ]
Wha-- Wha--
- Petersen!
- Huh?
What happened here?
- What did you do?
- I-- I don't know.
Don't know? What do you mean?
What do you mean
you don't know?
- I don't know!
- What the--
There's no pain.
There's no pain.
There's no pain
in my leg.
[ Chuckles ]
What did you do?
[ Chuckling ]
There's no pain
in my leg!
I didn't do nothing.
- You fixed it!
- I swear I didn't.
I didn't do nothin'.
Now listen.
He pressed his hands
against Fowler's body,
and there was this
charge of electricity--
of-of energy.
In a few seconds,
the man was healed!
I'm telling you.
His-- His guts
were falling out...
and Petersen
put him back together.
You saw him, Doc!
Right?
I mean--
I mean, look at him!
And look at me.
Twenty years with
a hunk of shrapnel...
twisted in the muscles
of this leg...
and now it's gone.
He fixed my leg!
- Meadows, I'm glad
you think you feel better.
- I don't just think!
But your claim
that this man
heals with a touch--
It's not just a claim.
Here, watch.
Come over here.
Here.
Hi, Johnny.
How's the arthritis today?
It's bad.
Hurts like hell
most of the time.
Petersen, come on.
No. No.
[ Panting ]
I-- I don't understand
what's going on.
But I am not gonna
put on a show for him!
You are not gonna
change your mind about me.
[ Panting ]
Look, God or devil,
I didn't ask
to be able to do this.
I just want--
I just want to go
back to my cell...
and be left alone
until my time tomorrow.
Don't do it to show him.
Do it to help Johnny.
Good God, man,
if you can stop
this pain,
please,
stop the hurting.
You can help him.
Come on.
[ Sighs ]
Come on. You can help him.
You have to help him.
That's it.
[ Zaps ]
[ Laughs ]
My hands!
Look at my hands!
I got new hands!
I got new hands!
Look at my hands!
Look at my hands!
[ Laughing ]
[ Meadows ]
Warden, the man's
touch can heal.
You saw it for yourself.
He may've taken a life
four years ago,
but now he can give life.
You can't let him die.
You've got to call
the governor.
[ Man ]
Come on, brother!
Heal me, man!
- Petersen! Come on!
- Come on! Touch me, man!
- Got to help me, man.
- What do they want
from me?
I just wish
they'd leave me alone.
Leave you alone?
They can't
leave you alone.
Not now.
You have a gift.
[ Water Running ]
Life is just
full of surprises.
That's all.
[ Sniffs ]
Why? Why me?
Why now?
I don't have an answer
for that one.
I mean this-- this--
this power belongs with
someone on the outside,
not somebody in here
waitin' to die.
You know, maybe--
Maybe you're not
supposed to go around
healing the whole world.
Just help as many
as you can.
What? These guys?
You saw the look
on Johnny's face
when you touched him,
when you took away
the pain.
Yeah, and what good
is it gonna do him?
Do as much as you can
for the others
in the time you have.
Just take away
the pain.
Petersen, Warden
wants to see you.
[ Door Locks ]
Sit down.
We both know since
you've arrived here,
that I've done
everything in my power...
to block commutation
of your sentence.
I've spoken against you...
both to the prison commission
and the governor.
You see, I believe
in capital punishment.
- That hasn't changed.
- [ Chuckles ]
I'll be honest with you.
I don't know
if there's anything
I can do to help you.
But I'll call
the governor today.
I'll even make a statement
to the press if I have to.
And I give you
my solemn promise...
that I will do everything
in the time remaining...
to try and save you.
Honey.
This is my daughter.
She's six years old.
She's been blind
the last four.
Daddy, who's this?
Well, sweetheart,
this is, uh--
A friend. I'm a friend
of your father's.
My name's Casey.
What's yours?
Eric.
My name's Eric.
I'll do all
that I can, Eric.
I mean, you understand,
I can't promise you
anything.
[ Whispers ]
It's okay.
It's okay, sweetheart.
[ Zapping ]
[ Men Shouting,
Overlapping ]
Petersen! Petersen!
Just a flash, right here.
- Over here.
- Touch me, man.
[ Shouting, Indistinct ]
I appreciate that,
Governor.
Yeah. But we're talking
about minutes now.
I have statements from
ten witnesses who saw it,
from beginning to end.
I know. I know.
You know my position
on that.
But these are
extraordinary
circumstances.
"Thou, fool,
that which thou sowest
is not quickened,
except it die."
[ Petersen ]
What time is it, Father?
11:48.
Twelve minutes.
You've done an awful lot
of good today, Eric.
A lot of good.
I did, didn't I?
[ Clanks ]
Uh, Eric,
I'm sorry.
It's funny.
All of a sudden,
I'm not so, uh,
interested
in being alone.
[ Doors Slamming ]
[ Ragged Breathing ]
[ Clock Chimes ]
[ Electricity Whirs ]
I'm sorry, Petersen.
[ Clears Throat ]
It's just not fair.
[ Clears Throat ]
I mean, all the people
you could've helped.
- It's just not right.
- [ Zaps ]
My God!
[ Zapping ]
Hey! Come here!
Come here. Come here.
Hurry!
Come over here!
Weren't you in the line up
this morning? With the arm?
- Yes.
- All right.
Touch his arm.
[ Puts Down Object ]
- Come on.
- Isn't that--
Yes, he is.
Grab his arm.
Come on! Come on!
- Open it up, Donnelly.
- What's going on,
Meadows?
Open up.
Open up the block.
No way, man!
Not a chance!
For once in your life,
just do something right.
[ Buzzes ]
Get hold of him.
Touch him.
- Come on, you guys.
- What are you
talking about?
Just grab a piece.
Hold on. That's it.
That's it.
Touch him. Come on.
Everybody.
You too. Touch.
Just hold him.
Touch him.
Everybody.
[ Zapping ]
What the hell
is goin' on here?
My God.
What on earth
do we do now?