Frank Leone neučakano šteje dneve, ko bo iz zapora zakorakal na prostost. Vendar le malo pred izpustitvijo njegova usoda pade v roke ječarja, ki si začne na vse pretege prizadevati, da Frank ne bi več ugledal belega dne. Za to ima svoje razloge, za Franka pa se pekel v zaporu šele začne.
Frank Leone is nearing the end of his prison term for a relatively minor crime. Just before he is paroled, however, Warden Drumgoole takes charge. Drumgoole was assigned to a hell-hole prison after his administration was publicly humiliated by Leone, and has now arrived on the scene to ensure that Leone never sees the light of day.