 A handsome, young defendant severely wounded by police in a robbery which left a rookie cop dead, is hospitalized under tight guard. When older, plain Nurse Hatch (4 time Emmy winner Colleen Dewhurst, twice married to George C. Scott) takes charge of his care, he sincerely maintains his innocence and paints the police as victimizing him, pleading he won t make it to trial alive. Her no-nonsense patient care demeanor backs off the police, and the young man builds a personal relationship with her. As she melts, the strengthening prisoner works to gain her help in escaping.