1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,160 CZ Studio and Radio Verte presents The Wild Wind by Corey Zimmerman. 2 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:27,160 Chapter 12 3 00:00:35,160 --> 00:01:01,160 The Wild Wind 4 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:06,160 Throughout history, the female criminal has been cast as a double deviant. 5 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:16,160 First, because she violated the law, and second, and perhaps more importantly, because she had violated the moral parameters of womanhood. 6 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:27,160 And seen as beyond conversion or reform, once behind the walls of the penitentiary, Fanny knew there was no escape. 7 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:36,160 The penitentiary was dirty, crowded, and each woman was isolated in a dry cell, with only a pot to piss in, locked up for 23 hours a day. 8 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,160 If you wanted a blanket, you had to steal one. 9 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:47,160 There was no exercise, no games or crafts, nothing more or less than a Puritan vision of hell, pure and simple. 10 00:01:47,160 --> 00:02:02,160 The parameter of the cell house was lined with each cell, with the day room in the middle. As the guard with the master key released them for their one hour, they would congregate in small clusters about the floor of the day room to converse. 11 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:17,160 Is that a baby crime? asked Fanny as an attractive lady named Caroline jumped to her feet and ran off in tears. Did I say something to upset her? She's just jealous, that's all, said Irene, a slightly overweight black woman in her mid-forties. 12 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:20,160 Jealous? asked Fanny. Of what? 13 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:40,160 The baby, said Irene, as Fanny smirked in confusion. Guard Lewis is the baby's daddy, Florence is the mama, said Esther, a skinny pale girl, no older than 25, the exact type of gal that really makes you wonder what she must have done to end up in a place like this. 14 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:56,160 The guard brings his baby to work? asked Fanny. Ain't no one supposed to know it's his baby, said Irene. He sneaks his baby to work? At least till they find it a proper home. He lives here? asked Fanny. With Florence? said Esther, in her cell. Fanny was speechless. 15 00:02:56,160 --> 00:03:03,160 Caroline just upset because she's dumb enough to think he'd only be doing it with her, said Irene. Who? asked Fanny. 16 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:18,160 Guard Lewis? said Esther, squirming on her hands. I sure hope you got family or some cash stashed away, because I know he gonna like you, honey, said Irene, squat on her round bottom, chin in her palms, bored out of her mind. 17 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:31,160 Irene had been there for a long time, after all. No money, no family, no food. As you can see, I got family. And she grabbed a layer of fat around her belly. So we're supposed to starve to death? Fanny asked, as it was truly her biggest fear in life. 18 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,160 And she knew outright she'd much rather be burnt alive. 19 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:40,160 Nope, you're supposed to let Guard Lewis have his way with you, said Esther, bouncing on her hands. 20 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:47,160 Honey, what do you know about having anything any which way, anyhow? asked Irene. And Esther looked down and grew quiet. 21 00:03:47,160 --> 00:04:07,160 Money, family, or sex, honey? What's your name, anyhow? Allison, Anastasia, Betty, Bertie, Kathy, Diana, Dorothy, Eleanor, Ethel, Fanny, Franzen, Ginger, Helen, Jackie, Jacqueline, Kathleen, Lily, Margaret, wait a minute, Fanny? You mean you're Fanny? The Fanny? Irene's eyes lit up. 22 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:18,160 Well, I suppose I am, said Fanny. Good Lord, clever, swindler, and confident swum into every grace to Midwest Plains, sitting right here before me. I can't believe it. 23 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:26,160 Hey girls, it's Fanny. You know, Fanny the Fanner? She yelled across the room, throwing the back of her hand across her forehead, fainting to drop to the floor behind her. 24 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:40,160 All the women turned and looked and then whispered amongst themselves. Sex for food, Fanny asked, and to think the warden told me to take advantage of this opportunity to find God? 25 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:47,160 Come dinnertime, Fanny was back in her cell when Gar Lewis came along with a plate of bread, meat, cheese, and potatoes. 26 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:58,160 Well, hey there, darling, he said, as Fanny looked up at him in silence. He sniffs at the air. Hmm, you sure is ripe, ain't you? But Fanny said nothing. 27 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:05,160 What's the matter, birdie? Cat got your tongue? You really ought to watch your tail feathers. There's a mean cat a-roaming. 28 00:05:05,160 --> 00:05:10,160 Fanny looked at the food as it steamed up toward his face, youthful yet tarnished with Satanism. 29 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:16,160 Well, here you go, little bird. Dinner's on me. Birdie lunged for the plate just as he yanked it away. 30 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:25,160 First one and only one, understand? Welcome to the cat house, little bird. 31 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:33,160 Late that night, Fanny awoke to his cell being closed, and she saw Gar Lewis walk past with a grip on Caroline's arm. 32 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:38,160 Later that day, Fanny asked Irene, where's Caroline? I saw Gar Lewis take her away last night. 33 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:46,160 She probably still sleeping then, said Irene. You say Gar Lewis got quite the stantama. Wait, you never, Fanny began to ask. 34 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:51,160 Hell no, Irene answered abruptly. I told you, I'm fat. Look at me. I got family who helps me out. 35 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:59,160 Besides, I got caught bringing myself off one night a few years back by this guard named James, real stickler, by the book kind of guy. 36 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:09,160 Anyhow, he took me to the warden. He sent me to the doctor, said I was hysterical and fixed me. You what? asked Fanny. He cut off that thing, said Esther with a blush. 37 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:15,160 The thing? asked Fanny. Yeah, the thing, said Irene, nodding down toward her crotch. 38 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:21,160 No, said Fanny. Yep, said Irene. No more ring around the rosy for me. 39 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:26,160 Wait, why does Caroline, how could she have feelings for such a creep? asked Fanny. 40 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:32,160 Daddy issues, said Esther. Guess she thinks she goes along with it. She ain't gonna get hurt again, said Irene. 41 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:43,160 Again, asked Fanny. Esther shook her head yes. Daddy issues, said Esther with white eyes. 42 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:48,160 The following day, Gar Lewis arrived at Fanny's cell with no plate of food. 43 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:53,160 Hey there, little bird, making yourself at home in your new nest? Fanny stared at him with disdain. 44 00:06:53,160 --> 00:07:02,160 Jeet yet? he asked. Of course you hadn't. So, little bird, I'm sure you know how this works. So what you got for me? 45 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,160 He unlocked the door and walked in and took a look around. 46 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:10,160 Doesn't look like you got much to offer, little bird, he said with a grin. Come on, stand up. 47 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:17,160 Go on now, turn around, face the wall. Fanny stared him down. Now, he ordered. 48 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,160 Fanny turned toward the wall. Hands on the wall. 49 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:24,160 Hmm, now let's see what you got tucked away in this pretty little get up of yours. 50 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:35,160 As he placed his hands on her hips, working his way down her thighs, and then back up toward her pelvis, upper belly to her chest where he stopped and fondled her breasts. 51 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:44,160 Fanny cleansed her teeth and stared angrily at the wall, but remained still and silent. After all, she had known worse than this. 52 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:53,160 See, you ain't got no cash. How's that clear you plan on getting anything to eat around here? You think you're gonna get a free ride, little bird, because you a hot little number? 53 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:57,160 Well, why don't you come with me and we'll fix you up a plate. 54 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,160 No, said Fanny. She had known worse than this. 55 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:06,160 No, he asked with the squeeze of her breast before dropping his hands to his side. 56 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:11,160 No, and in the voice of bewilderment. Didn't you know you ain't allowed to say no? 57 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:18,160 Nope, not in here. Not in the cat house. In the cat house, you got one word, and that word is yes, sir. 58 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:25,160 That's two words and no, said Fanny, just as he backhanded her across the face, knocking her to the ground. 59 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:32,160 Carl Lewis then walked out of her cell and slammed the door shut, saying, Oh, you gonna eat, or I'm gonna eat you, little bird. 60 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:42,160 You see, around here, you're gonna learn to be nice to me, just like the rest of them. You hear me? 61 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:46,160 In the day room. Oh, my, look at that shiner, said Irene. 62 00:08:46,160 --> 00:08:51,160 Carl Lewis? asked Ethel. That son of a bitch is gonna get his, said Fanny. 63 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:57,160 Calm down, honey. Go get Fanny a blanket. Esther returned quickly and wrapped the blanket around Fanny. 64 00:08:57,160 --> 00:09:02,160 Hell, I should have gave it to you once I learned who you was and all. Slipped my mind. 65 00:09:02,160 --> 00:09:08,160 I can't tell you what a hero you are to me, hell, all of us. We've been hearing about you for years. 66 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:12,160 You've been the freest woman I ever heard of. Now I can say I knew you. 67 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:16,160 Irene paused before saying, Fanny, just be careful. He a dangerous man. 68 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,160 Esther nodded. You looking awfully skinny. 69 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:25,160 Esther go get Fanny some bread from my cell. Don't worry about me. I can handle Carl Lewis, said Fanny. 70 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:32,160 I've dealt with men like him all my life. 71 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:40,160 For five days, Carl Lewis skipped Fanny's cell, but Irene kept her fed in the meantime. 72 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,160 Fanny watched once more as Caroline was led away by the arm. 73 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:51,160 Caroline looked over into Fanny's eyes, and Fanny saw a mixture of delight and pain, and she gave a slight grin. 74 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:56,160 But once she was out of sight, she frowned, cried, and then spoke to Cecil. 75 00:09:56,160 --> 00:10:00,160 What am I going to do, Cecil? I just need to think. 76 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:04,160 No, no, no. I can't do that, Cecil. What do you know about how to survive anyhow? 77 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,160 You think I've been living on the high hog? No, Cecil, no. 78 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:15,160 I've been scrapping by ever since you decided to get comfy in the ground, damn you. 79 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:19,160 I saw him take Caroline again, said Fanny. 80 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,160 You're going to have to get used to it, said Irene. 81 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:27,160 They're in love, said Esther. He doesn't love her, snapped Fanny. 82 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,160 There must be something we can do to help her. 83 00:10:29,160 --> 00:10:33,160 Honey, you're going to have to save all these girls then. 84 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:37,160 I say you do what you've always done and save yourself, said Irene. 85 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:40,160 That bastard, said Fanny. 86 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:44,160 The three then sat in silence a moment. 87 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,160 How does a person get out of here anyhow, Fanny asked? 88 00:10:47,160 --> 00:10:50,160 You mean break out? asked Esther. 89 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,160 Has anyone ever broke out of here? asked Fanny. 90 00:10:53,160 --> 00:10:55,160 Hell, I've never seen it happen, said Irene. 91 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,160 And I've been going on 12 years now. 92 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:00,160 So how do I break out? 93 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:02,160 You've got to go mad, said Esther. 94 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,160 Cuss and scream and lose your senses. 95 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:06,160 Which you've got to do, honey. You've got to break things. 96 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:08,160 Hell, break your own arm if you've got to. 97 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,160 You've got to break something to break out, said Irene. 98 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:13,160 Yep, said Esther. 99 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,160 You ever seen anyone break their arm on purpose? asked Irene. 100 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:19,160 No, that would be insane, said Fanny. 101 00:11:19,160 --> 00:11:24,160 Exactly, said Esther and Irene simultaneously. 102 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:33,160 When Gar Lewis came around, Fanny had to act weak, as though she had not eaten in days. 103 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:38,160 So, little bird, stomach a-growling? I know mine sure is. 104 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,160 And as he unlocked the door, come on now, let's go get you a plate, 105 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:46,160 Fanny stood up and went with him, and he took her by the arm to a storage room, 106 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:49,160 where he locked the door behind her. 107 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:53,160 Looking around, he said, well, shit, I guess this ain't the kitchen. 108 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,160 Must have made a wrong turn. 109 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,160 But I'm sure we can find something to eat around here somewhere. 110 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:03,160 Huh, there you go, he said as he pulled his penis out of his pants. 111 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,160 Now go on. But Fanny turned her head away. 112 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,160 He shoved her over into the wall, and in a rage, 113 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:12,160 kicked her right in the face, knocking her out cold. 114 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,160 All the other women locked in their cells watched in silence, 115 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:19,160 as Gar Lewis drug Fanny back to her cell by the arm. 116 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:22,160 Later that day, she sat with Irene and Esther. 117 00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:26,160 Esther cleaned the gash above her eye, when another inmate walked up 118 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,160 and sat a piece of bread before her, 119 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:31,160 and then another approached with another piece of bread. 120 00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:34,160 She was then given a chunk of cheese and a cup of soup, 121 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:38,160 a chunk of meat, as almost every inmate came to sit food at Fanny's feet. 122 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:42,160 But all Fanny saw was a pile of sexual favors, 123 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:49,160 a pile of rape, coercion, and blackmail, and a constant fear of violence. 124 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,160 Later that night in her cell, she told Cecil, 125 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:57,160 I think I got an idea. 126 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:01,160 That's it. That's it, Cecil. I don't figured it out. 127 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,160 I'm getting the hell out of here. 128 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:09,160 When Gar Lewis passed by Fanny's cell the next day, she called for him. 129 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,160 What the hell you want? He asked. 130 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,160 Please, sir, I'm starving. I'll do anything you ask. 131 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,160 I promise you, just please take me. 132 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,160 By the time Gar Lewis stumbled from the storage room, 133 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,160 he was doused in vomit with his pants at his knees, 134 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:28,160 moaning in agony with a look of total disbelief on his face. 135 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,160 Fanny had already torn her clothes to shreds, 136 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,160 and had begun to climb the bars of the cells, 137 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:37,160 howling like a rabid beast as the vomit foamed about her lips. 138 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:39,160 Gar Lewis screamed in pain, 139 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,160 You crazy bitch! You bit my dick off! 140 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,160 As he collapsed, Fanny wailed on in bloody terror on his behalf. 141 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,160 It took a dozen guards to pull her down from the bars 142 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,160 and drag her out of the cellhouse by the legs. 143 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:55,160 She was so scared, she couldn't even walk. 144 00:13:55,160 --> 00:13:59,160 So she pulled her down the bars and dragged her out of the cellhouse by the legs, 145 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,160 as she dug her nails into the floor until they bled. 146 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,160 Fanny had managed to lift the keys from Gar Lewis while in the storage room, 147 00:14:05,160 --> 00:14:08,160 and amongst the commotion, the guards had failed to notice 148 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,160 that she slid them into Irene's cell. 149 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:13,160 With the last of the guards helped Gar Lewis to his feet 150 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,160 and walked him out of the cellhouse, Irene unlocked her cell, 151 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,160 and then Esther's, and then another, and another, 152 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:24,160 until all the women inmates came out howling in hysteria. 153 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:30,400 Fanny, having instigated the first female prison riot in modern history, was thrown 154 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:37,640 into solitary confinement under the care of the doctor. 155 00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:43,800 Six weeks later, everyone stood at their bars in silence as a despondent Fanny was led back 156 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:44,800 to her cell. 157 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:50,000 A half a day went by before two guards returned with the warden and entered Fanny's cell. 158 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:55,160 A moment later they escorted her out with shackles around her wrists and ankles, and 159 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,920 she carried a folded blanket under her arm. 160 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:04,920 As they passed Irene's cell, Bertie said wait, and she handed the blanket back to Irene. 161 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:11,120 Irene smiled and whispered, You broke out. 162 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,320 Fanny grinned and the guards pulled her along. 163 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:20,000 She walked in the tiny steps one may take with shackles upon their feet, the same tiny 164 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:26,080 steps she had taken for a lifetime, as Esther began to clap, and then everyone, until the 165 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:32,360 applause turned to chants of Fanny, and then Bertie as arms began to flap within their 166 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,920 cages, circling in jubilation. 167 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:45,600 The roar sent chills of inspiration and hope down their spines. 168 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:52,880 And long after Fanny turned and bowed, each woman stood taller, and proud to be a double 169 00:15:52,880 --> 00:16:19,960 deviant.