Freebird

By Tim Lee

Nick Rudolph is a young guy sentenced to death. He is a free spirit, determined not to be another victim of the execution process.
While on death row he formulates a plan to escape, and he does so successfully, taking three other death row inmates with him.
They are smart, sticking together and going to a place to lay low for a year and a half, not being seen, then eventually they go their separate ways.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 28, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387091294

Book preview

Freebird

FREEBIRD

by Tim Lee

Copyright (c) 2017 by Tim Hoffner

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this ebook may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Chapter 1

SC.1 EXT. WOODED AREA - NIGHT

Opening credits begin. Scene shows three men beating a man. Various shots are shown. Screen goes black for a few seconds between each shot. The man is dead.

Cut to one of the three men digging a hole.

Cut to the three of them putting the man's body in the hole, then throwing dirt on the man in the hole.

Cut to them packing the dirt on top, spreading some leaves over the area, then walking away.

SC.2 INT. COURTHOUSE - DAY

The words 14 months later appear at bottom of screen briefly. People are walking about in the building.

Narrator: At some point in time in school students are asked what they want to be when they grow up. Nobody ever answers that question by saying they want to be an inmate on death row in some prison, after being convicted of killing someone. That is, however, how the lives of some people turn out. Some people get mixed up in something they shouldn't. That is what happened with Nick Rudolph.

Scene fades out.

SC.3 INT. COURTROOM - DAY

The face of a young white man in his early-twenties is shown. It is Nick Rudolph. There is no expression on his face as he listens to the judge sentence him.

Judge: You have received a fair trial and had adequate legal counsel represent you. You were tried in front of a jury of your peers who recommended a sentence of death for you. It is my decision to support that recommendation. I hereby sentence you to death. May God have mercy on your soul, Mister Rudolph.

Nick Rudolph is escorted out of the courtroom by three deputy sheriffs.

SC.4 EXT. COUNTY JAIL - DAY

Nick Rudolph and other inmates being transported are shown getting onto a transport bus. All of them are belly-chained and have leg shackles on. Nick sits down and looks out the barred window next to him.

SC.5 INT. TRANSPORT BUS - DAY

Camera moves along the ceiling of the bus, showing the inmates. It comes down as it nears Nick, then stops. Nick is looking out the window at the scenery they are passing.

Narrator: "Each person's perspective of doing time is different. Doing time isn't same for everyone.

Everyone has had different experiences in life, and come from different backgrounds. Some people cope well in prison, and others do not. Some people don't mind being locked up, because they don't have any responsibilities. Someone else is taking care of them. Others do not like being locked up at all, and will never be happy being locked up. A person can be content while in prison, but they will never be happy until they are free. Nick Rudolph is one who will never be happy until he is free."

Cut to shot of the bus from the outside, showing Nick looking out the window as the bus continues driving down the road.

Chapter 2

SC.6 EXT. RECEPTION PRISON - DAY

Nick and other inmates are getting off the transport bus and being taken into the prison. It is the prison where inmates are first processed and given their prison numbers and held until they are sent to their parent institution. Inmates sentenced to death, however, are processed quickly, then taken to the prison that houses death row.

Nick is shown at various places in the prison, then is placed in a van.

Cut to the van driving away from the prison, followed by another van.

SC.7 EXT. PRISON - EARLY EVENING

A series of shots is shown. The van is shown from behind, driving toward the prison. Van pulling onto prison driveway. Van pulling through gate and being checked by guards. Nick getting out of the van and being walked through a small chain-link door next to the large gate, then being led away down an asphalt road to another part of the prison.

SC.8 INT. DEATH ROW UNIT - EARLY EVENING

Nick is standing in front of a door. Two guards are with him. To the left of the door is a sign with the words Death Row Unit on it. The door opens and he walks through the doorway and down a hallway.

SC.9 INT. DEATH ROW UNIT MANAGER OFFICE - EARLY EVENING

Nick is sitting in a chair in front of the Death Row Unit Manager's desk. Rachel Flanders is sitting behind her desk.

Flanders: I understand that this is your first time in the prison system, and the first time you've ever been in trouble. That is what your paperwork says.

Nick:  Yeah.

Flanders looks at him for a moment.

Flanders: Here's the deal, Rudolph. You stay out of shit and you won't have any problems here. My main concern is maintaining safety here on death row. For both the inmates and the officers that work back here. I know that being here is going to be a major adjustment for you, but you'll get used to how things work. Myself and other members of the unit staff will be talking to you over the next two weeks. Other people will also. It's late and I'm leaving. Do you have any questions right now?

Nick: No.

Flanders: Not much for conversation, are you?

Nick: No, not really.

Flanders: That's good. A lot of these guys just run their mouths. They aren't that smart and can't think of anything constructive to do with their time. I hope you'll find something constructive to do with your time. You're young, Rudolph, and just because you're here doesn't mean your life is over. You should keep that in mind.

Nick nods.

Nick: I will.

Flanders walks out of her office, then one of the guards walks in.

Guard: C'mon, Rudolph. We're taking you to your new home.

Nick stands up and walks out of the office.

SC.10 INT. CELLBLOCK - EARLY EVENING

Nick is brought into the cellblock. They put him in a cell after taking the shackles off his legs. A small flap is on the cell door. It has a lock on it. One of the guards unlocks it and removes the belly-chain and handcuffs and locks the small flap, which is what they refer to as a cuff port or food slot, and walk out of the cellblock.

Nick: Well, this sucks.

A mattress, sheets, and blankets are on his bunk. He starts making his bed.

Hawk: Hey, new guy!

Nick walks up to his cell door and looks out the window.

Nick: Yeah?

Hawk: What's your name?

Nick: Nick Rudolph.

Hawk: You fuckin' kiddin' me? Like the reindeer?

Nick laughs.

Nick: Yeah. A lot of people ask me that when I tell them my last name.

Hawk laughs. A couple other inmates also laugh.

Hawk: I'm Jeff Sharp, but I go by Hawk. I'm down toward the end of the range. You just get here?

Nick: About thirty minutes ago.

Hawk: You weren't at the other joint very long before they brought you here. They run guys right through there.

Nick: No shit. Like I was in the express check-out line at a grocery store. They don't do that to guys regarding executions do they? Cause that'd be fucked up.

Hawk: "No, but they damn sure want to. They want to shorten our