During the latest of many imprisonments for burglary, Panzram (James Woods) forms an uneasy friendship with prison guard Henry Lesser (Robert Sean Leonard). Panzram asks Lesser for writing equipment and proceeds to write his life story, in which he confesses to several murders. Only one bright spot is shown: a kindly warden who staunchly believes in rehabilitation and whom Panzram appeared to actually like. However, his actions destroy the rehabilitation program—Panzram ends up raping a woman when granted a furlough.