Episode Report Card Kim: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Unnatural Disasters
By Kim | Season 3 | Episode 4 | Aired on 08.03.1999
Shirley and Richie wish each other good morning on Death Row. Are they really any good mornings when you're on Death Row? I guess any morning that you're still alive is good. Richie is going to appeal his conviction, and if it works, he won't see Shirley again. Richie confesses that if it doesn't work, he's going to do what Shirley suggested and tell the powers that be that he and Schillinger committed murder together. Shirley approves of justice being done, and then tells Richie that his sweater is almost done. Flash to said sweater, which is not "almost done," and looks like it would fit one of my cats. The guards come to take Richie to court, and he and Shirley have a tearful goodbye.
Busmalis and Rebadow play cards with Russky, who is regaling them with tales of his criminal past in Russia. Beecher comes by and informs them that Richie Hanlon's murder conviction was overturned due to some loophole. Richie isn't free, though, because he still has to serve time for his original drug conviction, so he's headed back to Em City. Busmalis remembers that Russky knew Alexander Vogel, Richie's victim. Russky claims that Vogel was his enemy, so Richie's court decision is cause to celebrate. Busmalis and Rebadow seem charmed by Russky.
Richie is welcomed back to Em City. He goes to take a shower, and is joined by Russky. Richie is babbling about how happy he is to be alive, which is a sure sign that he's about to die. Russky makes as if he wants to start a little something with Richie, and moves in for a kiss. As Richie leans in, Russky reveals the razor blade he has hidden in his mouth, and slits Richie's throat. Russky says, "I lied. Alexander Vogel was my friend." Richie...well, Richie won't be saying much of anything anymore. Russky rinses off the razor blade, then makes like a tree and leaves.
Hill, still in Pharaoh gear and now with a child sitting on his lap, tells us about the last plague sent to Egypt. All the first-born children of Egypt died on one night, even the Pharaoh's son. Hill concludes, "His sweet, innocent little boy."
Shirley unravels the sweater she was knitting for Richie as the guards call for lights out. She stands and stares into Richie's former cell, which is now empty.
Flashback to Gloria telling Nappa that he is HIV-positive and will have to be transferred to the AIDS unit. In the present, Father Ray walks into Nappa's cell. Nappa offers him a cappuccino. Ray is surprised that Nappa has a cappuccino machine, but Nappa says that the only good thing about being on that unit is that the guards figure they're already dead, so they let them do whatever they want. Ray raises his eyebrows and agrees to a cappuccino. Nappa prepares the drink and admits that he always thought of Ray as "a hack in black." Ray knows that most of the prisoners think he's just a stoolie for the warden. Nappa says that in his neighborhood growing up, a boy could be a doctor, a lawyer, a priest, or...a businessman. The meaningful pause before "businessman" lets Ray know what Nappa is talking about. Nappa says that in order to become a "businessman," he had to "burn the saint." Ray fills in that he's talking about burning a picture of a saint to show that you renounce the church and pledge your loyalty to the Mob. Nappa says he didn't believe at first that he was HIV-positive, but he had his own doctor check the results, and it's true. Ray starts to give him the big speech about HIV not being a death sentence, but Nappa tells him to save it. Nappa says that, in his line of work, you're always ready to die, but you assume that it will be quick. A slow death allows time to reflect on your life, and now Nappa wants to make a confession of everything he's done in his life, and make a good act of contrition. Ray puts down his drink and puts on his vestments. Nappa asks for help getting started, and then gets on with the rite.