1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:01,583 - San Quentin is synonymous with doing hard time-- 2 00:00:05,250 --> 00:00:08,167 a site of deadly escape attempts. 3 00:00:08,375 --> 00:00:10,167 - The department of inspections and the guards 4 00:00:10,250 --> 00:00:13,458 called San Quentin the most violent prison in America. 5 00:00:13,583 --> 00:00:15,792 - But in 1979, 6 00:00:15,958 --> 00:00:17,625 San Quentin made headlines 7 00:00:17,750 --> 00:00:19,833 for the most ingenious escape 8 00:00:19,958 --> 00:00:21,917 in American history. 9 00:00:22,083 --> 00:00:23,792 - Forrest Tucker, in spite of all the places 10 00:00:23,875 --> 00:00:25,000 he had escaped out of, 11 00:00:25,250 --> 00:00:28,042 he even agrees that one of his best escapes 12 00:00:28,208 --> 00:00:29,917 was from San Quentin-- 13 00:00:30,042 --> 00:00:31,500 his masterpiece. 14 00:00:31,625 --> 00:00:34,458 [dramatic music] 15 00:00:34,542 --> 00:00:35,750 ♪ 16 00:00:35,917 --> 00:00:38,667 - Some of the greatest stories ever told 17 00:00:38,792 --> 00:00:40,583 start behind bars... 18 00:00:40,708 --> 00:00:42,125 ♪ 19 00:00:42,208 --> 00:00:44,292 Locked up in the most notorious prisons 20 00:00:44,417 --> 00:00:45,792 in the world, 21 00:00:45,958 --> 00:00:48,042 spied on by guards 22 00:00:48,208 --> 00:00:50,500 and fellow prisoners. 23 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:54,292 It takes a devious mind to find a way out. 24 00:00:54,417 --> 00:00:55,958 ♪ 25 00:00:56,083 --> 00:00:57,500 It could lead you to freedom... 26 00:00:57,708 --> 00:00:59,000 ♪ 27 00:00:59,083 --> 00:01:00,500 Or it could cost you your life. 28 00:01:00,667 --> 00:01:02,375 - [grunts] 29 00:01:02,542 --> 00:01:05,167 - But wouldn't you try 30 00:01:05,292 --> 00:01:06,708 when you have nothing left to lose? 31 00:01:06,875 --> 00:01:13,708 ♪ 32 00:01:13,875 --> 00:01:16,583 [rock music] 33 00:01:16,708 --> 00:01:18,542 ♪ 34 00:01:18,708 --> 00:01:20,333 San Quentin prison. 35 00:01:20,458 --> 00:01:22,583 Inmates call it "the arena" 36 00:01:22,708 --> 00:01:25,667 or "gladiator school" 37 00:01:25,750 --> 00:01:29,042 because of its reputation for sheer violence. 38 00:01:29,208 --> 00:01:31,667 Inmates lashing out against each other, 39 00:01:31,875 --> 00:01:33,083 the guards, 40 00:01:33,208 --> 00:01:35,167 or really anyone. 41 00:01:35,375 --> 00:01:38,167 It's California's oldest prison, 42 00:01:38,292 --> 00:01:40,958 a home to desperate men, 43 00:01:41,042 --> 00:01:43,208 and the country's largest death row. 44 00:01:43,375 --> 00:01:45,833 - In San Quentin, you will find murderers 45 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,333 robbers, rapists, 46 00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:51,333 child molesters, burglars, larcenists, 47 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:54,667 and people who have committed every variety of offense 48 00:01:54,833 --> 00:01:57,292 known to mankind. 49 00:01:57,458 --> 00:02:00,000 Amongst the notorious persons 50 00:02:00,208 --> 00:02:01,833 who have been housed in San Quentin 51 00:02:02,042 --> 00:02:03,667 are Charles Manson, 52 00:02:03,833 --> 00:02:04,875 Sirhan Sirhan-- 53 00:02:05,083 --> 00:02:07,917 almost every really terribly bad person 54 00:02:08,042 --> 00:02:09,500 that has been in prison in California 55 00:02:09,625 --> 00:02:11,167 has spent some time in San Quentin. 56 00:02:11,292 --> 00:02:13,042 - And all those people 57 00:02:13,208 --> 00:02:14,292 had to, in some kind of way, 58 00:02:14,417 --> 00:02:15,958 figure out how to navigate 59 00:02:16,125 --> 00:02:18,208 and fit into that little space. 60 00:02:18,375 --> 00:02:21,292 - This massive medieval-like structure 61 00:02:21,417 --> 00:02:22,958 is considered impregnable 62 00:02:23,042 --> 00:02:24,833 with 20-foot stone walls 63 00:02:24,917 --> 00:02:29,125 and a ring of guard towers manned by crack shots. 64 00:02:29,250 --> 00:02:31,625 - San Quentin is bordered on three sides 65 00:02:31,792 --> 00:02:32,833 by a massive wall. 66 00:02:33,208 --> 00:02:35,875 That's in addition to a variety of interior walls 67 00:02:36,042 --> 00:02:37,750 within each of the various cell blocks. 68 00:02:37,875 --> 00:02:39,167 But on the fourth side, 69 00:02:39,292 --> 00:02:41,167 you just have the San Francisco bay, 70 00:02:41,292 --> 00:02:42,708 which is believed to be, 71 00:02:42,833 --> 00:02:44,667 as was the case of Alcatraz, 72 00:02:44,750 --> 00:02:46,375 a natural barrier, 73 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:50,292 a kind of impenetrable watery barrier-- 74 00:02:50,375 --> 00:02:52,250 one that would mean almost certain death 75 00:02:52,375 --> 00:02:54,833 to any prisoner who thought they could try 76 00:02:54,958 --> 00:02:57,250 to swim to safety. 77 00:02:57,375 --> 00:02:58,250 - While the authorities brag 78 00:02:58,500 --> 00:03:00,667 about the prison's impenetrability, 79 00:03:00,833 --> 00:03:04,000 that doesn't mean prisoners haven't put it to the test. 80 00:03:04,083 --> 00:03:05,958 - When prisoners did try to escape, 81 00:03:06,042 --> 00:03:07,875 it was usually by violent means. 82 00:03:08,042 --> 00:03:09,542 - In the history of San Quentin, 83 00:03:09,708 --> 00:03:11,167 there have been a number 84 00:03:11,333 --> 00:03:13,875 of escape attempts 85 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:16,250 that have ended very violently. 86 00:03:16,375 --> 00:03:19,167 The most violent was the escape attempt 87 00:03:19,333 --> 00:03:20,875 that occurred in the courthouse 88 00:03:21,042 --> 00:03:22,167 in Marin County. 89 00:03:22,542 --> 00:03:25,167 In the ensuing gunplay, the prisoners were killed, 90 00:03:25,292 --> 00:03:26,917 a Marin County judge was killed, 91 00:03:27,083 --> 00:03:28,250 and a deputy district attorney 92 00:03:28,375 --> 00:03:31,917 was shot and paralyzed for life. 93 00:03:32,083 --> 00:03:35,500 - But eight years after this notorious escape attempt, 94 00:03:35,625 --> 00:03:37,167 in 1979, 95 00:03:37,375 --> 00:03:39,167 one inmate masterminds 96 00:03:39,333 --> 00:03:42,458 San Quentin's most ingenious breakout ever. 97 00:03:42,625 --> 00:03:44,833 The architect of this bold plan 98 00:03:45,042 --> 00:03:47,042 is a 59-year-old bank robber, 99 00:03:47,208 --> 00:03:48,500 Forrest Tucker. 100 00:03:48,667 --> 00:03:51,542 [dramatic music] 101 00:03:51,708 --> 00:03:53,583 ♪ 102 00:03:53,750 --> 00:03:56,417 Forrest Tucker spends decades robbing banks 103 00:03:56,583 --> 00:03:58,833 and breaking out of jails. 104 00:03:58,958 --> 00:04:00,625 It's a living, I guess. 105 00:04:00,708 --> 00:04:02,875 In October 1978, 106 00:04:03,042 --> 00:04:04,458 pushing 60, 107 00:04:04,542 --> 00:04:06,792 he's once again busted and pleads guilty 108 00:04:06,917 --> 00:04:09,208 to a Modesto armed robbery. 109 00:04:09,333 --> 00:04:10,292 Having escaped 110 00:04:10,583 --> 00:04:13,167 from 17 different detention facilities 111 00:04:13,333 --> 00:04:15,208 since he was a teen, 112 00:04:15,333 --> 00:04:18,042 Forrest Tucker enjoys the growing notoriety 113 00:04:18,208 --> 00:04:20,375 of being an escape artist. 114 00:04:20,500 --> 00:04:23,042 - Some explain Tucker's compulsion 115 00:04:23,167 --> 00:04:24,667 to not only rob banks, 116 00:04:24,833 --> 00:04:27,625 but escape from prisons as his own desire 117 00:04:27,708 --> 00:04:29,875 to tell the world-- show the world 118 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:31,167 that he was a somebody. 119 00:04:31,333 --> 00:04:33,083 [gunfire] And he was, like, 120 00:04:33,208 --> 00:04:35,375 the types of Depression-era gangsters 121 00:04:35,542 --> 00:04:37,208 that he had grown up reading about-- 122 00:04:37,417 --> 00:04:40,542 that he was a larger-than-life American hero 123 00:04:40,708 --> 00:04:42,167 in a sense. [jail bars slam] 124 00:04:42,250 --> 00:04:44,208 And a Robin Hood figure. 125 00:04:44,375 --> 00:04:46,833 Forrest Tucker never went into a prison 126 00:04:46,958 --> 00:04:49,167 not thinking about escaping. 127 00:04:49,292 --> 00:04:51,125 Even at moments in his career, 128 00:04:51,292 --> 00:04:53,500 when he was on the precipice of being released, 129 00:04:53,625 --> 00:04:55,208 he would still try to escape. 130 00:04:55,333 --> 00:04:57,083 It was just in his blood. 131 00:04:57,250 --> 00:04:58,500 - Forrest is already thinking 132 00:04:58,625 --> 00:05:01,792 about how to get out of this jail jam. 133 00:05:01,875 --> 00:05:04,083 Once an escape artist, 134 00:05:04,208 --> 00:05:07,167 always an escape artist. 135 00:05:07,333 --> 00:05:09,000 But this time, the stakes are higher 136 00:05:09,167 --> 00:05:10,792 than they have ever been. 137 00:05:10,958 --> 00:05:12,333 After all, 138 00:05:12,500 --> 00:05:14,458 he isn't getting any younger. 139 00:05:14,583 --> 00:05:17,458 - So in October of 1978, 140 00:05:17,583 --> 00:05:19,000 he was sentenced to San Quentin 141 00:05:19,125 --> 00:05:20,333 to serve ten years. 142 00:05:20,583 --> 00:05:23,792 - At 30, ten-year term doesn't seem like too much, 143 00:05:23,875 --> 00:05:27,458 but nearing 60, a ten-year term could be a life sentence. 144 00:05:27,542 --> 00:05:29,167 The minute he was handcuffed, 145 00:05:29,375 --> 00:05:30,875 he was trying to figure out how to escape. 146 00:05:31,083 --> 00:05:35,542 ♪ 147 00:05:35,708 --> 00:05:38,292 - Locked up in his damp concrete cell, 148 00:05:38,375 --> 00:05:41,000 deep inside the bowels of the prison, 149 00:05:41,167 --> 00:05:43,542 Tucker realizes his first obstacle 150 00:05:43,750 --> 00:05:47,667 is just getting out of this dang building. 151 00:05:47,792 --> 00:05:50,333 But just because something is a problem, 152 00:05:50,458 --> 00:05:53,250 doesn't mean there isn't a solution. 153 00:05:53,375 --> 00:05:54,667 - You know, people in prison are-- 154 00:05:54,792 --> 00:05:57,125 become ingenious out of necessity. 155 00:05:57,250 --> 00:05:59,333 - No one escapes 17 times 156 00:05:59,458 --> 00:06:01,708 just by using their brawn, 157 00:06:01,833 --> 00:06:05,625 and Forrest doesn't have that much brawn left anyway. 158 00:06:05,708 --> 00:06:08,833 He will have to use what he always used before-- 159 00:06:09,042 --> 00:06:10,417 his brains. 160 00:06:10,542 --> 00:06:13,000 It is time to keep his mouth shut 161 00:06:13,167 --> 00:06:16,375 and his ears and eyes open. 162 00:06:16,500 --> 00:06:19,500 He eventually gets wind of something called 163 00:06:19,583 --> 00:06:22,208 the prison industries workshop. 164 00:06:22,333 --> 00:06:25,167 - San Quentin had a prison industries workshop 165 00:06:25,333 --> 00:06:26,667 that made furniture 166 00:06:26,792 --> 00:06:29,250 for state and other public offices 167 00:06:29,375 --> 00:06:30,958 and workshops and stuff. 168 00:06:31,125 --> 00:06:34,417 - The prison industries are located on the grounds 169 00:06:34,583 --> 00:06:37,625 of the prison, but outside the main building. 170 00:06:37,792 --> 00:06:40,375 Security there was less intense-- 171 00:06:40,542 --> 00:06:43,125 maybe even a little lax. 172 00:06:43,250 --> 00:06:44,708 - He can get a job, for example, 173 00:06:44,833 --> 00:06:47,292 in prison industries-- in essence, come and go 174 00:06:47,458 --> 00:06:49,333 from the main prison facility 175 00:06:49,500 --> 00:06:52,375 to workshops or other areas, 176 00:06:52,542 --> 00:06:55,125 which were not as closely guarded. 177 00:06:55,292 --> 00:06:57,417 - There are problems with this plan. 178 00:06:57,542 --> 00:07:00,000 The old man is locked up for bank robbery, 179 00:07:00,125 --> 00:07:01,250 not jaywalking. 180 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:03,583 Prisoners like him are not supposed to have 181 00:07:03,708 --> 00:07:06,833 that much free reign around the wider premises, 182 00:07:06,958 --> 00:07:09,667 but the old dog is always learning new tricks, 183 00:07:09,833 --> 00:07:13,000 and his latest con is just that-- 184 00:07:13,167 --> 00:07:14,833 being old. 185 00:07:14,958 --> 00:07:19,417 ♪ 186 00:07:19,583 --> 00:07:22,250 Despite his reputation for slipping away, 187 00:07:22,458 --> 00:07:25,667 Forrest uses his age and docile demeanor 188 00:07:25,792 --> 00:07:28,500 to win over the prison officials. 189 00:07:28,667 --> 00:07:31,000 He eventually gets himself assigned 190 00:07:31,208 --> 00:07:32,333 to work near the wharf 191 00:07:32,458 --> 00:07:34,708 where the workshops are located-- 192 00:07:34,875 --> 00:07:36,625 a spot on the grounds of San Quentin 193 00:07:36,750 --> 00:07:39,000 with much lower oversight. 194 00:07:39,167 --> 00:07:43,417 His first step towards freedom is taken. 195 00:07:43,542 --> 00:07:45,917 But it is only a tiny step. 196 00:07:46,042 --> 00:07:47,750 He's not sure, exactly, 197 00:07:47,875 --> 00:07:50,375 what his escape route will be yet, 198 00:07:50,542 --> 00:07:53,333 but being down here, away from the main building 199 00:07:53,500 --> 00:07:56,833 during the day is a start. 200 00:07:56,917 --> 00:07:59,917 Time to open the ears and eyes. 201 00:08:00,042 --> 00:08:02,208 - Tucker has access to the wharf, 202 00:08:02,375 --> 00:08:04,417 which is where the prison industries are. 203 00:08:04,542 --> 00:08:07,042 This is exactly the place he wants to be 204 00:08:07,167 --> 00:08:08,792 as he begins to think through 205 00:08:08,917 --> 00:08:12,125 how to escape from San Quentin. 206 00:08:12,250 --> 00:08:15,292 - But while Forrest watches what is going on around him, 207 00:08:15,417 --> 00:08:17,625 someone is watching Tucker. 208 00:08:17,708 --> 00:08:20,458 After all, he's not the only inmate 209 00:08:20,542 --> 00:08:22,083 with a thirst for freedom. 210 00:08:22,250 --> 00:08:29,208 ♪ 211 00:08:29,333 --> 00:08:32,042 - John Waller was a lifelong criminal 212 00:08:32,208 --> 00:08:34,333 and a self-styled bon vivant 213 00:08:34,458 --> 00:08:35,917 and a traveling man, 214 00:08:36,083 --> 00:08:38,667 and by his own description, not a working man, 215 00:08:38,833 --> 00:08:41,667 and he was known as a rabbit, 216 00:08:41,792 --> 00:08:44,250 and a rabbit is a prisoner who runs. 217 00:08:44,458 --> 00:08:46,917 - Burgeoning escape artist John Waller 218 00:08:47,042 --> 00:08:49,750 is familiar with the tales of old man Tucker. 219 00:08:49,875 --> 00:08:52,208 Perhaps a young buck can learn a few tricks 220 00:08:52,375 --> 00:08:54,792 from the old dog. 221 00:08:54,917 --> 00:08:55,625 - They met. 222 00:08:55,958 --> 00:08:57,583 One day, Waller was taking a break, 223 00:08:57,667 --> 00:09:01,167 sitting on the bench, looking out over the bay, 224 00:09:01,333 --> 00:09:03,250 and you have to see this scene 225 00:09:03,417 --> 00:09:05,667 of the bay and the prison wharf 226 00:09:05,833 --> 00:09:08,083 because there are pleasure boats out there, 227 00:09:08,208 --> 00:09:11,792 and naturally enough, the conversation turns to, 228 00:09:11,958 --> 00:09:13,583 "How do we get out of this place?" 229 00:09:13,750 --> 00:09:15,958 - As the two men enjoy their view 230 00:09:16,042 --> 00:09:18,500 of the sporty yachts from across the bay, 231 00:09:18,708 --> 00:09:20,167 it seems to Waller 232 00:09:20,292 --> 00:09:23,083 that Tucker nods at the water in front of them. 233 00:09:23,292 --> 00:09:27,292 Is Tucker suggesting they swim out of this place? 234 00:09:27,458 --> 00:09:29,042 That's crazy talk. 235 00:09:29,208 --> 00:09:30,542 - Considering security 236 00:09:30,708 --> 00:09:33,833 and considering their past history of escapes, 237 00:09:33,917 --> 00:09:36,458 why would you put them on the prison wharf? 238 00:09:36,625 --> 00:09:39,083 Well, the answer to that is because the authorities 239 00:09:39,250 --> 00:09:41,958 did not believe that water escape was possible. 240 00:09:42,083 --> 00:09:45,125 - Tucker agrees that swimming is not an option. 241 00:09:45,292 --> 00:09:48,333 He's not really sure what he's thinking, 242 00:09:48,500 --> 00:09:49,958 but there's something about that water 243 00:09:50,125 --> 00:09:53,375 that just feels soft to Tucker. 244 00:09:53,542 --> 00:09:55,625 - So they just kind of brainstorm and said, 245 00:09:55,792 --> 00:09:56,917 "How can we get out of here?" 246 00:09:57,292 --> 00:10:01,250 You know, and he said, "I know how to build a boat." 247 00:10:01,375 --> 00:10:02,542 - For the first time, 248 00:10:02,917 --> 00:10:07,000 Waller has the old escape artist's full attention. 249 00:10:07,208 --> 00:10:09,000 This is a crazy idea, 250 00:10:09,125 --> 00:10:12,542 and the old man loves crazy ideas. 251 00:10:12,708 --> 00:10:15,333 - Tucker has devised a sort of philosophy 252 00:10:15,500 --> 00:10:17,417 when it comes to escaping from prison, 253 00:10:17,542 --> 00:10:21,125 and that is the more imposing the prison, 254 00:10:21,292 --> 00:10:23,000 the more security you face, 255 00:10:23,167 --> 00:10:26,375 the more bizarre the escape needs to be. 256 00:10:26,458 --> 00:10:28,458 - "Let's use the water. 257 00:10:28,625 --> 00:10:30,667 "We can build a boat. 258 00:10:30,875 --> 00:10:31,917 Nobody would figure it out." 259 00:10:32,292 --> 00:10:35,958 - Tucker and Waller might just be a perfect match 260 00:10:36,083 --> 00:10:37,375 made in prison. 261 00:10:37,542 --> 00:10:38,875 The two men agree 262 00:10:39,042 --> 00:10:42,625 to sail out of San Quentin together. 263 00:10:42,792 --> 00:10:44,625 Of course, there are a few more obstacles 264 00:10:44,792 --> 00:10:47,333 they would have to figure out before they can set off 265 00:10:47,542 --> 00:10:51,500 for a life filled with margaritas. 266 00:10:51,625 --> 00:10:53,542 They've got the warehouse and the tools, 267 00:10:53,708 --> 00:10:57,917 but how will they keep their plan secret? 268 00:10:58,042 --> 00:11:00,667 The Pacific Ocean coming in and out of the bay 269 00:11:00,833 --> 00:11:02,333 has strong tides. 270 00:11:02,417 --> 00:11:05,958 If they don't set off at the right time of day, 271 00:11:06,083 --> 00:11:08,625 they will never beat the currents, 272 00:11:08,750 --> 00:11:10,792 and it's not like the guards in the towers 273 00:11:11,000 --> 00:11:14,167 looming over them are blind to what happens at the wharf 274 00:11:14,250 --> 00:11:15,458 or on the water. 275 00:11:15,625 --> 00:11:18,208 How will they get the boat out there 276 00:11:18,333 --> 00:11:20,125 without being spotted? 277 00:11:20,250 --> 00:11:23,750 And no one is going to mistake them for a pleasure boat 278 00:11:23,917 --> 00:11:26,667 in their prison uniforms. 279 00:11:26,792 --> 00:11:28,833 But hell, 280 00:11:28,958 --> 00:11:31,375 Forrest has gotten this far, 281 00:11:31,542 --> 00:11:33,958 and the old escape artist can certainly work around 282 00:11:34,083 --> 00:11:36,167 those problems-- 283 00:11:36,375 --> 00:11:38,958 or at least, he hopes he can. 284 00:11:39,083 --> 00:11:40,667 If not, 285 00:11:40,708 --> 00:11:43,375 he's doomed to spend the rest of his life 286 00:11:43,500 --> 00:11:45,083 as a spectator, 287 00:11:45,208 --> 00:11:48,375 looking out as the ships and his freedom 288 00:11:48,542 --> 00:11:51,333 sail off into the sunset. 289 00:11:51,375 --> 00:11:53,208 ♪ 290 00:11:57,542 --> 00:12:00,333 [dramatic music] 291 00:12:00,458 --> 00:12:05,167 ♪ 292 00:12:05,292 --> 00:12:08,500 - America's greatest prison escape artist, 293 00:12:08,708 --> 00:12:11,375 Forrest Tucker, is planning to bust out 294 00:12:11,583 --> 00:12:14,667 of maximum security San Quentin. 295 00:12:14,792 --> 00:12:18,167 It's his most audacious scheme ever-- 296 00:12:18,375 --> 00:12:19,792 to build a boat 297 00:12:19,958 --> 00:12:22,083 and paddle to freedom 298 00:12:22,292 --> 00:12:24,917 in San Francisco Bay. 299 00:12:25,125 --> 00:12:27,208 He knows he cannot do it alone 300 00:12:27,375 --> 00:12:31,292 and agrees to join up with fellow inmate John Waller, 301 00:12:31,458 --> 00:12:33,667 better known as The Rabbit, 302 00:12:33,833 --> 00:12:36,333 a term used to describe a man 303 00:12:36,542 --> 00:12:38,583 with multiple prison escapes. 304 00:12:38,708 --> 00:12:42,833 ♪ 305 00:12:43,042 --> 00:12:45,292 - They met in Waller's cell 306 00:12:45,417 --> 00:12:47,750 and discussed what kind of boat 307 00:12:47,875 --> 00:12:49,667 they might be able to build. 308 00:12:49,792 --> 00:12:51,417 - And eventually, they settle 309 00:12:51,542 --> 00:12:53,833 on the idea of a kayak. 310 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:55,875 It would have a double-bladed paddle, 311 00:12:56,042 --> 00:12:57,917 which means they could build up a lot of speed 312 00:12:58,042 --> 00:13:00,208 necessary to get across the choppy waters. 313 00:13:00,375 --> 00:13:02,750 - During recreation time on the unit, 314 00:13:02,875 --> 00:13:05,958 when inmates have more freedom to move about, 315 00:13:06,083 --> 00:13:07,833 the two men spend some time away 316 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:09,625 from the prying eyes and ears 317 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:13,042 of the other prisoners in Waller's cell. 318 00:13:13,167 --> 00:13:15,667 But while Tucker is confident in Waller's ability 319 00:13:15,792 --> 00:13:16,958 to build a boat, 320 00:13:17,250 --> 00:13:19,333 he believes they'll need an extra set of hands 321 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:22,958 to help build and move their escape vessel. 322 00:13:23,042 --> 00:13:24,958 Tucker tells Waller 323 00:13:25,042 --> 00:13:28,833 they will need someone with an escape-oriented mind 324 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:31,250 and the ability to keep their mouth shut. 325 00:13:31,417 --> 00:13:36,542 ♪ 326 00:13:36,708 --> 00:13:38,542 - William McGirk was a 38-year-old man 327 00:13:38,708 --> 00:13:40,417 who had been arrested for armed robbery. 328 00:13:40,583 --> 00:13:44,625 He had, in fact, escaped once from prison in 1970, 329 00:13:44,708 --> 00:13:45,708 where he and some other inmates 330 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,292 had plugged the toilets in a San Francisco jail 331 00:13:48,417 --> 00:13:50,833 and walked out during the ensuing aftermath. 332 00:13:50,917 --> 00:13:53,417 That's what gets him sent to San Quentin. 333 00:13:53,500 --> 00:13:54,458 - It's a risk. 334 00:13:54,708 --> 00:13:56,708 The more people know about the plan, 335 00:13:56,875 --> 00:13:58,375 the higher the chances 336 00:13:58,542 --> 00:14:01,833 someone opens their mouth at the wrong time. 337 00:14:02,042 --> 00:14:05,000 - Something like an escape, man, you gotta be very, very, 338 00:14:05,167 --> 00:14:06,500 you know, clear about who you're dealing with, 339 00:14:06,625 --> 00:14:08,667 how much they gonna talk, can they keep a secret, 340 00:14:08,833 --> 00:14:09,667 and if you can trust them, 341 00:14:10,042 --> 00:14:10,958 'cause you're talking about your life, 342 00:14:11,375 --> 00:14:13,708 'cause not only could you get locked up in the hole 343 00:14:13,875 --> 00:14:14,542 and be in the hole for some years, 344 00:14:14,750 --> 00:14:16,000 you could literally get killed. 345 00:14:16,125 --> 00:14:18,375 - Willie McGirk was an acquaintance 346 00:14:18,583 --> 00:14:20,167 or friend of Forrest Tucker. 347 00:14:20,333 --> 00:14:22,875 Waller respected Tucker, and when Tucker asked 348 00:14:23,042 --> 00:14:26,333 if McGirk could come along, Waller acquiesced to that 349 00:14:26,458 --> 00:14:29,167 and said, "That's fine. He can come along." 350 00:14:29,292 --> 00:14:31,292 - Having established a crew, 351 00:14:31,458 --> 00:14:35,000 the three men can now focus on the biggest obstacle-- 352 00:14:35,125 --> 00:14:37,375 how do you build a boat, 353 00:14:37,542 --> 00:14:39,208 waltz it down to the shore, 354 00:14:39,375 --> 00:14:41,833 and launch yourself into the bay 355 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,000 at a maximum security prison 356 00:14:44,167 --> 00:14:47,000 all without the guards noticing you? 357 00:14:47,167 --> 00:14:48,833 If Forrest and his accomplices 358 00:14:49,042 --> 00:14:52,083 cannot find the chink in San Quentin's armor, 359 00:14:52,208 --> 00:14:55,333 then all of their elaborate plans will be for nothing. 360 00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:57,958 - Forrest knew what to be careful about. 361 00:14:58,083 --> 00:15:01,833 His whole theme his whole life was "find the weak spot." 362 00:15:02,042 --> 00:15:04,167 - After two days of reconnaissance, 363 00:15:04,375 --> 00:15:06,958 Tucker realized that San Quentin's weak spot 364 00:15:07,125 --> 00:15:08,875 was not just the prison industries' 365 00:15:09,042 --> 00:15:11,167 warehouse access to the bay, 366 00:15:11,250 --> 00:15:14,625 but the unmanned guard tower #4. 367 00:15:14,792 --> 00:15:16,417 ♪ 368 00:15:16,542 --> 00:15:19,292 - The particular reason that guard tower #4 369 00:15:19,417 --> 00:15:21,500 might have been chosen to be unmanned 370 00:15:21,625 --> 00:15:22,667 was because of the belief 371 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,958 that the wharf was safe, because after all, 372 00:15:26,125 --> 00:15:28,792 nobody's going to be able to escape into the bay. 373 00:15:28,917 --> 00:15:32,750 The bay, to the prison, was an iron wall. 374 00:15:32,875 --> 00:15:35,625 - If the men can get the boat to the bay 375 00:15:35,792 --> 00:15:37,542 underneath the unmanned guard tower 376 00:15:37,708 --> 00:15:39,458 without being spotted, 377 00:15:39,542 --> 00:15:41,833 then they should be able to get out some distance 378 00:15:41,917 --> 00:15:43,958 from shore before anyone 379 00:15:44,042 --> 00:15:47,833 in the manned guard tower #5 spots them. 380 00:15:47,917 --> 00:15:49,667 But first things first. 381 00:15:49,833 --> 00:15:52,167 They need a boat. 382 00:15:52,333 --> 00:15:55,167 And building a boat requires, 383 00:15:55,333 --> 00:15:58,167 well, boat-building stuff. 384 00:15:58,375 --> 00:16:00,583 ♪ 385 00:16:00,708 --> 00:16:01,833 - The next thing was, 386 00:16:02,042 --> 00:16:03,083 "What are they gonna build it out of?" 387 00:16:03,417 --> 00:16:06,375 Waller worked in the prison industries warehouse, 388 00:16:06,542 --> 00:16:09,125 where all of the materials that are necessary 389 00:16:09,292 --> 00:16:11,000 for the building of furniture 390 00:16:11,167 --> 00:16:13,083 to supply to government offices 391 00:16:13,208 --> 00:16:15,000 throughout the state of California 392 00:16:15,167 --> 00:16:17,417 are stored in that warehouse. 393 00:16:17,583 --> 00:16:20,333 - Prisoners that are allowed access to the workshops 394 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:23,042 have unbridled access to all the tools 395 00:16:23,208 --> 00:16:25,167 a builder could ask for-- 396 00:16:25,333 --> 00:16:29,750 the perfect opportunity to repurpose the excess materials 397 00:16:29,875 --> 00:16:32,375 without being detected. 398 00:16:32,500 --> 00:16:34,500 After three days of collecting and hiding 399 00:16:34,667 --> 00:16:37,417 the materials, Waller carefully assesses 400 00:16:37,542 --> 00:16:39,750 whether he has everything they need. 401 00:16:39,875 --> 00:16:41,667 - So Waller took inventory 402 00:16:41,833 --> 00:16:43,375 of the supplies that were available 403 00:16:43,542 --> 00:16:45,792 and reported back to Tucker immediately. 404 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,375 Lumber, Formica, plastic sheathing, 405 00:16:49,542 --> 00:16:52,792 you name it-- everything we need is there. 406 00:16:52,917 --> 00:16:58,167 ♪ 407 00:16:58,333 --> 00:17:00,917 - Waller's not worried about any of the guards noticing 408 00:17:01,042 --> 00:17:02,667 the supplies missing. 409 00:17:02,750 --> 00:17:06,917 The volume of wood, nails, and Formica are huge, 410 00:17:07,042 --> 00:17:10,375 but he and the other two co-conspirators know 411 00:17:10,542 --> 00:17:13,583 that if anyone gets wind of their general plans 412 00:17:13,708 --> 00:17:16,333 or catches them in the act of construction, 413 00:17:16,542 --> 00:17:19,083 they will be locked up in this joint for even longer 414 00:17:19,208 --> 00:17:21,625 than their original sentence. 415 00:17:21,792 --> 00:17:23,125 ♪ 416 00:17:23,375 --> 00:17:28,167 Tucker's blueprints call for a kayak that's 14 feet long. 417 00:17:28,292 --> 00:17:33,208 The keel alone is to be carved from a 15-foot Formica sheet. 418 00:17:33,375 --> 00:17:35,292 Waller sets up in a dark nook 419 00:17:35,375 --> 00:17:37,292 near the back of the workshop. 420 00:17:37,458 --> 00:17:39,875 He and Tucker come up with a two-part plan 421 00:17:40,042 --> 00:17:42,167 to keep this work secret. 422 00:17:42,333 --> 00:17:46,042 - In order to hide their progress from the guards, 423 00:17:46,208 --> 00:17:48,500 Waller would play the radio very loudly, 424 00:17:48,708 --> 00:17:50,750 but he would only work for about two minutes at a time. 425 00:17:50,917 --> 00:17:53,917 He'd rush back to see if any of the guards were about, 426 00:17:54,083 --> 00:17:56,375 then he'd go back to his work very quickly. 427 00:17:56,542 --> 00:17:59,167 - It takes Waller 15 single-edge razor blades 428 00:17:59,333 --> 00:18:00,917 and countless nicks and cuts 429 00:18:01,083 --> 00:18:04,125 just to shape the 14-foot keel for the kayak. 430 00:18:04,292 --> 00:18:07,500 But as the boat pieces begin to take shape, 431 00:18:07,625 --> 00:18:10,250 the proverbial clock begins to tick. 432 00:18:10,375 --> 00:18:14,125 - As the construction of the boat continues, 433 00:18:14,292 --> 00:18:16,583 it becomes increasingly difficult to hide it. 434 00:18:16,708 --> 00:18:17,667 The pieces become bigger. 435 00:18:17,958 --> 00:18:21,167 - There's only so long a 14-foot keel can stay hidden 436 00:18:21,292 --> 00:18:22,958 in a prison workshop. 437 00:18:23,042 --> 00:18:25,625 The men realize this entire escape plot 438 00:18:25,708 --> 00:18:28,500 will have to take place in record time. 439 00:18:28,583 --> 00:18:31,000 Tucker gives them less than a week. 440 00:18:31,208 --> 00:18:33,208 They'll need to work double time. 441 00:18:33,375 --> 00:18:34,792 - We have Waller constructing the boat 442 00:18:34,917 --> 00:18:36,042 according to Tucker's plans. 443 00:18:36,167 --> 00:18:37,917 Tucker is going back and forth, 444 00:18:38,083 --> 00:18:39,708 ferrying different items, 445 00:18:39,875 --> 00:18:42,000 and McGirk is 446 00:18:42,208 --> 00:18:44,500 keeping his mouth shut. 447 00:18:44,667 --> 00:18:47,667 - But McGirk does have an important task-- 448 00:18:47,792 --> 00:18:50,625 figure out the tides. 449 00:18:50,750 --> 00:18:54,167 He manages to steal the tide report for the bay 450 00:18:54,250 --> 00:18:56,250 out of the local paper. 451 00:18:56,417 --> 00:18:58,375 Studying the ebb and flow of the water, 452 00:18:58,542 --> 00:19:01,042 he reports to Tucker that their best window 453 00:19:01,125 --> 00:19:05,625 for escape is August 9, 1979-- 454 00:19:05,792 --> 00:19:08,125 three days away. 455 00:19:08,208 --> 00:19:10,458 - They wanted to go as close to full high tide 456 00:19:10,625 --> 00:19:13,458 as they could so that they would have the least chance 457 00:19:13,625 --> 00:19:18,167 of running up against the mud on the side of the bay. 458 00:19:18,292 --> 00:19:21,667 - But McGirk mentions that there is a huge problem 459 00:19:21,750 --> 00:19:23,625 with that date. 460 00:19:23,750 --> 00:19:26,458 It is also the day the Marin County Yacht Club 461 00:19:26,583 --> 00:19:30,375 across the bay will be out in full force 462 00:19:30,542 --> 00:19:32,667 for their bathtub regatta. 463 00:19:32,875 --> 00:19:36,708 The prisoners will not be alone on the water. 464 00:19:36,917 --> 00:19:38,125 - It's San Francisco Bay. 465 00:19:38,250 --> 00:19:40,500 It's dotted with sailing ships 466 00:19:40,625 --> 00:19:42,667 and things like the bathtub regatta. 467 00:19:42,792 --> 00:19:44,292 They put streamers on 'em. 468 00:19:44,458 --> 00:19:46,667 They don't wanna look like regular yachts. 469 00:19:46,792 --> 00:19:48,958 It's like the idea being you're out there 470 00:19:49,042 --> 00:19:51,208 in a bathtub, hence the name. 471 00:19:51,333 --> 00:19:53,083 - The tides are right, 472 00:19:53,208 --> 00:19:56,167 but the bay will have too many lookie-loos. 473 00:19:56,333 --> 00:20:00,000 Waller says they'll need to wait for a later date. 474 00:20:00,125 --> 00:20:02,000 Forrest knows that if they push back 475 00:20:02,125 --> 00:20:03,208 the escape any longer, 476 00:20:03,500 --> 00:20:06,333 the guards will certainly discover the boat, 477 00:20:06,542 --> 00:20:10,625 and their escape plan will no longer be secret. 478 00:20:10,708 --> 00:20:12,167 ♪ 479 00:20:16,208 --> 00:20:19,125 [rock music] 480 00:20:19,250 --> 00:20:21,042 ♪ 481 00:20:21,167 --> 00:20:23,375 - Forrest Tucker and his co-conspirators 482 00:20:23,542 --> 00:20:26,375 are desperately trying to get their getaway going-- 483 00:20:26,542 --> 00:20:27,375 and soon. 484 00:20:27,667 --> 00:20:30,750 The best tides are only a few days off. 485 00:20:30,875 --> 00:20:34,417 There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle. 486 00:20:34,583 --> 00:20:36,500 One key element is that 487 00:20:36,583 --> 00:20:39,042 they have to disguise themselves. 488 00:20:39,208 --> 00:20:40,750 They came up with a plan 489 00:20:40,917 --> 00:20:44,208 to pretend to be local yacht club members, 490 00:20:44,375 --> 00:20:47,750 pilfering supplies to create their yachting outbase. 491 00:20:47,875 --> 00:20:52,000 And of course, the biggest puzzle piece of all is, 492 00:20:52,167 --> 00:20:57,208 will their boat snap together in a seaworthy fashion? 493 00:20:57,375 --> 00:21:00,125 But Forrest Tucker did not escape 17 times 494 00:21:00,250 --> 00:21:02,167 without knowing how to turn a problem 495 00:21:02,250 --> 00:21:03,458 into a solution. 496 00:21:03,625 --> 00:21:04,667 ♪ 497 00:21:05,042 --> 00:21:07,708 They will paint the boat in the colors of the yacht club 498 00:21:07,875 --> 00:21:10,333 and make some jaunty little caps to blend in 499 00:21:10,458 --> 00:21:12,000 with the club members. 500 00:21:12,083 --> 00:21:15,500 He insists the date is set-- 501 00:21:15,625 --> 00:21:18,750 of course, that is if Waller can get the boat built 502 00:21:18,875 --> 00:21:20,333 without getting caught. 503 00:21:20,417 --> 00:21:22,000 [dramatic music] 504 00:21:22,167 --> 00:21:23,542 - The paddles for the kayak 505 00:21:23,708 --> 00:21:26,000 were made out of just two things-- 506 00:21:26,208 --> 00:21:27,250 plastic tubing 507 00:21:27,625 --> 00:21:32,333 and the tops of five-gallon plastic containers. 508 00:21:32,500 --> 00:21:36,000 They covered the parts in a sheathing of plastic-- 509 00:21:36,167 --> 00:21:37,500 the kind of plastic that was used 510 00:21:37,708 --> 00:21:40,333 to cover finished products at the warehouse 511 00:21:40,458 --> 00:21:41,333 before they went out. 512 00:21:41,583 --> 00:21:44,167 - That plastic was completely waterproof. 513 00:21:44,375 --> 00:21:46,000 - After a few days, 514 00:21:46,167 --> 00:21:48,250 it started to come together, 515 00:21:48,417 --> 00:21:51,042 but not quite fast enough. 516 00:21:51,208 --> 00:21:55,208 ♪ 517 00:21:55,333 --> 00:21:56,958 The clock is ticking. 518 00:21:57,042 --> 00:21:59,458 They need to leave soon. 519 00:21:59,625 --> 00:22:02,167 As the boat pods begin to come together, 520 00:22:02,292 --> 00:22:03,833 it becomes increasingly difficult 521 00:22:03,958 --> 00:22:06,333 to keep their little project under wraps. 522 00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:08,833 They're keeping the boat in pieces 523 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:10,500 so they can manage to hide it 524 00:22:10,667 --> 00:22:12,917 till the day of the escape. 525 00:22:13,083 --> 00:22:16,667 Of course, who knows if the boat will float? 526 00:22:16,792 --> 00:22:18,167 If it doesn't... 527 00:22:18,250 --> 00:22:20,250 ♪ 528 00:22:20,375 --> 00:22:22,167 They are sunk. 529 00:22:22,250 --> 00:22:24,333 ♪ 530 00:22:24,542 --> 00:22:26,167 With the boat pieces finished, 531 00:22:26,333 --> 00:22:28,667 it's time to put the final touches 532 00:22:28,875 --> 00:22:30,333 on the whole project. 533 00:22:30,500 --> 00:22:32,292 - The plan is always to assemble the boat 534 00:22:32,375 --> 00:22:33,583 on the day of the escape, 535 00:22:33,750 --> 00:22:36,208 but this is a large craft. 536 00:22:36,375 --> 00:22:38,750 Even its components can't be easily hid forever. 537 00:22:38,875 --> 00:22:40,917 So the clock is ticking. 538 00:22:41,042 --> 00:22:44,167 ♪ 539 00:22:44,333 --> 00:22:46,542 - There's no way of knowing ahead of time 540 00:22:46,667 --> 00:22:48,250 if all the pieces of the boat 541 00:22:48,375 --> 00:22:50,667 will fit together, if it will float, 542 00:22:50,833 --> 00:22:53,667 or will it hold three grown men. 543 00:22:53,833 --> 00:22:57,167 And still, there's that last nagging problem 544 00:22:57,375 --> 00:22:59,500 that Tucker keeps chewing on-- 545 00:22:59,583 --> 00:23:02,083 even if all the other pieces of the boat 546 00:23:02,250 --> 00:23:03,792 and the plan come together, 547 00:23:03,958 --> 00:23:06,625 how are they going to get from the warehouse 548 00:23:06,792 --> 00:23:09,875 to the shore carrying a boat 549 00:23:10,042 --> 00:23:12,417 without being spotted? 550 00:23:12,542 --> 00:23:14,333 The distance from the warehouse to the shore 551 00:23:14,458 --> 00:23:16,417 is at least 75 feet. 552 00:23:16,542 --> 00:23:18,208 Even at a brisk pace 553 00:23:18,375 --> 00:23:20,083 with three men carrying the boat, 554 00:23:20,250 --> 00:23:23,042 Tucker figures it will take at least 90 seconds 555 00:23:23,208 --> 00:23:24,583 to get to the water. 556 00:23:24,708 --> 00:23:25,667 ♪ 557 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,375 But that's a problem they'll have to worry about 558 00:23:28,542 --> 00:23:30,417 on the day of the escape. 559 00:23:30,583 --> 00:23:34,375 For now, it's time to focus on painting the boat 560 00:23:34,542 --> 00:23:36,917 to match the local yacht club. 561 00:23:37,083 --> 00:23:38,458 Tucker manages to smuggle in 562 00:23:38,625 --> 00:23:41,333 some royal blue spray paint. 563 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:43,667 - As they begin to paint the kayak, 564 00:23:43,833 --> 00:23:47,500 they quickly realize they will not have enough paint 565 00:23:47,625 --> 00:23:49,500 to do the whole thing. 566 00:23:49,625 --> 00:23:51,042 - This is a problem. 567 00:23:51,208 --> 00:23:52,417 ♪ 568 00:23:52,625 --> 00:23:53,667 A big part of the plan 569 00:23:53,833 --> 00:23:54,833 is to make themselves look 570 00:23:55,125 --> 00:23:57,292 as little like prisoners on a makeshift boat 571 00:23:57,417 --> 00:23:58,333 as possible. 572 00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:00,667 - This is where Forrest uses his brain. 573 00:24:00,833 --> 00:24:02,000 He's really smart at this, 574 00:24:02,167 --> 00:24:03,667 and in every one of his cases, 575 00:24:03,792 --> 00:24:05,208 every one of his escapes, 576 00:24:05,417 --> 00:24:07,375 he always had to improvise. 577 00:24:07,542 --> 00:24:08,958 He had to come up with something 578 00:24:09,125 --> 00:24:12,000 based on what was there. 579 00:24:12,125 --> 00:24:13,500 - They will paint half of it-- 580 00:24:13,667 --> 00:24:16,458 the half that faces the shore. 581 00:24:16,542 --> 00:24:18,750 - Just before they run through the last of the paint, 582 00:24:18,917 --> 00:24:22,542 Tucker stops them and pulls out three prison caps. 583 00:24:22,708 --> 00:24:24,375 - To blend in with the yacht club, 584 00:24:24,458 --> 00:24:27,292 means not just the boat blue and yellow, 585 00:24:27,375 --> 00:24:29,208 but even their clothing and a cap. 586 00:24:29,375 --> 00:24:31,167 So they had their regular prison caps, 587 00:24:31,292 --> 00:24:32,375 their prison jacket, 588 00:24:32,750 --> 00:24:35,333 and they put the paint of blue and yellow on those too. 589 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:37,292 So anybody seeing that from a distance 590 00:24:37,375 --> 00:24:39,167 would think, "Okay, these are the yachtsmen 591 00:24:39,250 --> 00:24:40,833 in their boats." 592 00:24:40,958 --> 00:24:43,500 - The men also know that the boat will be found 593 00:24:43,708 --> 00:24:45,500 after the escape, 594 00:24:45,667 --> 00:24:48,833 and Tucker's ego gets the best of him here. 595 00:24:48,958 --> 00:24:51,833 After all, he's not without a certain amount of pride 596 00:24:51,958 --> 00:24:55,500 when it comes to his ability to escape from anywhere. 597 00:24:55,667 --> 00:24:57,333 - They wanted to give the boat a name, 598 00:24:57,542 --> 00:24:59,583 and they wanted to give the prison officials 599 00:24:59,750 --> 00:25:01,667 a little bit of a shot in the ribs, 600 00:25:01,792 --> 00:25:05,208 and they named the boat Rub-a-Dub-Dub. 601 00:25:05,375 --> 00:25:06,833 - Now think of this nursery rhyme 602 00:25:07,042 --> 00:25:08,667 that goes back decades-- 603 00:25:08,875 --> 00:25:11,333 "rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub," 604 00:25:11,458 --> 00:25:12,500 and that's what they were-- 605 00:25:12,750 --> 00:25:16,250 three men in this tub, escaping San Quentin. 606 00:25:16,417 --> 00:25:20,000 ♪ 607 00:25:20,083 --> 00:25:21,500 - The day of the escape, 608 00:25:21,708 --> 00:25:23,833 everything is a go. 609 00:25:23,917 --> 00:25:26,167 Tucker and his comrades made inside the warehouse 610 00:25:26,333 --> 00:25:27,333 to assemble the boat 611 00:25:27,708 --> 00:25:29,958 and disguise their uniforms for the escape. 612 00:25:30,125 --> 00:25:33,500 ♪ 613 00:25:33,667 --> 00:25:35,542 - With the boat ready for assembly, 614 00:25:35,708 --> 00:25:39,583 McGirk determines they must sail at 1:30 p.m., 615 00:25:39,750 --> 00:25:42,667 15 minutes before high tide. 616 00:25:42,833 --> 00:25:44,917 The men will have one hour to get the boat 617 00:25:45,042 --> 00:25:47,333 out of the warehouse, into the water, 618 00:25:47,417 --> 00:25:49,833 and outside the confines of San Quentin 619 00:25:50,042 --> 00:25:54,125 before the 2:30 roll call comes up three men short. 620 00:25:54,250 --> 00:25:57,000 The sooner the three seafarers can get to shore, 621 00:25:57,167 --> 00:26:00,000 the more time they'll have to disappear into the wind, 622 00:26:00,208 --> 00:26:03,625 and they'll need every minute they can get. 623 00:26:03,792 --> 00:26:05,625 - Waller gave Tucker a little nod 624 00:26:05,708 --> 00:26:07,083 when he passed him on the wharf, 625 00:26:07,250 --> 00:26:10,167 meaning everything's a go. 626 00:26:10,375 --> 00:26:11,833 - Assembling a 14-foot boat 627 00:26:11,958 --> 00:26:13,750 in the middle of a prison workshop 628 00:26:13,917 --> 00:26:15,917 is bound to draw attention. 629 00:26:16,042 --> 00:26:18,083 The men only have a matter of minutes 630 00:26:18,292 --> 00:26:19,542 to piece the boat together 631 00:26:19,667 --> 00:26:21,500 and sneak it out of the warehouse 632 00:26:21,667 --> 00:26:23,333 and over to the water. 633 00:26:23,458 --> 00:26:25,792 - McGirk and Tucker came into 634 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,583 the prison industries warehouse 635 00:26:27,708 --> 00:26:28,500 where all the parts were 636 00:26:28,833 --> 00:26:30,542 and they put all the parts together 637 00:26:30,708 --> 00:26:33,042 like it was an IKEA bookcase. 638 00:26:33,167 --> 00:26:34,500 - Boat in hand, 639 00:26:34,625 --> 00:26:37,833 the men know there's no turning back now. 640 00:26:38,000 --> 00:26:41,208 Everything seems perfect for the escape. 641 00:26:41,333 --> 00:26:43,000 The tide's right, 642 00:26:43,125 --> 00:26:45,000 boat looks seaworthy, 643 00:26:45,167 --> 00:26:48,042 guard tower #4, the one at the edge of the water-- 644 00:26:48,167 --> 00:26:49,500 unmanned. 645 00:26:49,625 --> 00:26:51,542 But now it's time to solve 646 00:26:51,667 --> 00:26:54,875 the final piece of the equation. 647 00:26:55,042 --> 00:26:58,500 How the hell are they going to carry a 14-foot boat 648 00:26:58,667 --> 00:27:01,458 all the way from the workshop 649 00:27:01,625 --> 00:27:04,125 to the water without being seen? 650 00:27:04,292 --> 00:27:05,833 ♪ 651 00:27:10,042 --> 00:27:12,917 [dramatic music] 652 00:27:13,042 --> 00:27:15,333 ♪ 653 00:27:15,458 --> 00:27:18,333 - San Quentin inmates Forrest Tucker, 654 00:27:18,500 --> 00:27:21,542 John Waller, and Willie McGirk 655 00:27:21,750 --> 00:27:25,250 are poised to make history. 656 00:27:25,375 --> 00:27:27,625 They're readying a homemade boat 657 00:27:27,792 --> 00:27:31,083 for a daring escape by water. 658 00:27:31,250 --> 00:27:32,708 ♪ 659 00:27:32,875 --> 00:27:34,042 - So on August 9th, 660 00:27:34,208 --> 00:27:36,792 Tucker and McGirk put the boat together 661 00:27:36,958 --> 00:27:39,667 from the exquisitely pre-manufactured parts. 662 00:27:39,833 --> 00:27:42,417 Now they have to get the boat out of the warehouse 663 00:27:42,542 --> 00:27:44,667 over to the water. 664 00:27:44,792 --> 00:27:45,917 - This is the part of the plan 665 00:27:46,292 --> 00:27:49,792 that Tucker has never been able to fully puzzle out-- 666 00:27:49,958 --> 00:27:53,375 the trip to the shore from the warehouse. 667 00:27:53,542 --> 00:27:56,417 ♪ 668 00:27:56,542 --> 00:27:58,583 - It's a long, long walk 669 00:27:58,792 --> 00:28:02,000 off the proverbial short pier. 670 00:28:02,125 --> 00:28:04,792 If they are spotted trying to escape, 671 00:28:04,958 --> 00:28:07,667 they will be shown no mercy. 672 00:28:07,792 --> 00:28:10,333 - So San Quentin, they have a thing that says, 673 00:28:10,458 --> 00:28:12,583 "No warning shots," which means, 674 00:28:12,708 --> 00:28:14,583 "We don't have to give you a warning 675 00:28:14,708 --> 00:28:16,208 that we're gonna shoot you." 676 00:28:16,417 --> 00:28:18,833 So they literally have the authority to shoot to kill, 677 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,083 and they have shot and killed several people. 678 00:28:22,292 --> 00:28:25,292 - Even though guard tower #4 is unmanned, 679 00:28:25,458 --> 00:28:28,625 there are inmates just waiting for any opportunity 680 00:28:28,792 --> 00:28:30,667 to better their situation. 681 00:28:30,833 --> 00:28:33,833 - You always wanna be aware of the fact 682 00:28:33,958 --> 00:28:35,750 that somebody might tell, 683 00:28:35,917 --> 00:28:37,667 because people are looking for favors in prison, 684 00:28:37,792 --> 00:28:40,333 and then, there's just guys that are informants 685 00:28:40,500 --> 00:28:42,917 for the police, and those guys 686 00:28:43,042 --> 00:28:45,917 just lookin' for stuff to tell. 687 00:28:46,042 --> 00:28:48,833 - But if Tucker has learned one thing over the years, 688 00:28:49,000 --> 00:28:50,958 when it comes to skedaddling, 689 00:28:51,125 --> 00:28:53,750 sometimes it's better to be quick and uppy 690 00:28:53,875 --> 00:28:56,125 than to be deliberate and smart. 691 00:28:56,292 --> 00:28:59,292 He and Waller both know this part of the plan 692 00:28:59,458 --> 00:29:02,125 will require a bit of thinking on their feet. 693 00:29:02,250 --> 00:29:04,625 ♪ 694 00:29:04,708 --> 00:29:07,458 And now, August 9, 1979, 695 00:29:07,542 --> 00:29:10,958 a lazy delivery driver has left his truck unguarded 696 00:29:11,083 --> 00:29:14,375 at the loading dock to the warehouse. 697 00:29:14,500 --> 00:29:17,333 Tucker tells Waller to check, and sure enough, 698 00:29:17,375 --> 00:29:21,000 the keys are left right inside a warehouse drawer, 699 00:29:21,167 --> 00:29:23,167 just begging to be stolen-- 700 00:29:23,333 --> 00:29:27,667 or at least, repurposed for a 75-foot journey 701 00:29:27,833 --> 00:29:29,500 to the Pacific Ocean. 702 00:29:29,708 --> 00:29:31,042 - John Waller decided 703 00:29:31,208 --> 00:29:33,167 that he would create a blocking maneuver 704 00:29:33,333 --> 00:29:37,333 while Tucker and McGirk transported the boats 705 00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:38,667 over to the water. 706 00:29:38,792 --> 00:29:42,792 ♪ 707 00:29:42,875 --> 00:29:45,708 - Waller steals the keys, gets into the truck, 708 00:29:45,833 --> 00:29:48,625 begins driving it slowly towards the water. 709 00:29:48,750 --> 00:29:50,583 - Tucker can't believe it. 710 00:29:50,708 --> 00:29:53,583 No one would think twice about him walking around a truck 711 00:29:53,708 --> 00:29:54,708 with another inmate 712 00:29:55,000 --> 00:29:57,708 as they carry some kind of heavy object. 713 00:29:57,875 --> 00:29:59,458 It's what they do all day. 714 00:29:59,583 --> 00:30:00,667 - It wouldn't be a surprise 715 00:30:00,875 --> 00:30:03,333 to see a truck moving around in this area. 716 00:30:03,500 --> 00:30:05,958 It would be a surprise to see 'em hauling a kayak 717 00:30:06,083 --> 00:30:08,000 by itself, but not if it was shielded 718 00:30:08,125 --> 00:30:10,792 from the guard by the truck. 719 00:30:10,958 --> 00:30:14,833 - Incredibly, the plan works. 720 00:30:14,958 --> 00:30:16,917 - On the opposite side of the truck, 721 00:30:17,042 --> 00:30:18,833 hidden from the view of the prison guards, 722 00:30:19,042 --> 00:30:20,333 are McGirk and Tucker. 723 00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:24,042 [rock music] 724 00:30:24,208 --> 00:30:27,500 - Tucker and McGirk scurry across with the boat 725 00:30:27,667 --> 00:30:31,667 and put it in the water right below guard tower #4. 726 00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:33,833 McGirk and Tucker stay low and hidden 727 00:30:34,042 --> 00:30:37,375 while Waller drives the truck back up, returns the keys, 728 00:30:37,500 --> 00:30:39,708 and then casually makes his own way 729 00:30:39,917 --> 00:30:42,333 down to the water. 730 00:30:42,417 --> 00:30:44,167 - They can't believe it. 731 00:30:44,250 --> 00:30:47,333 If it happened in the movies, you wouldn't believe it. 732 00:30:47,542 --> 00:30:51,333 But now it's time to answer their next big question. 733 00:30:51,458 --> 00:30:54,500 Is the boat seaworthy? 734 00:30:54,583 --> 00:30:55,875 [dramatic music] 735 00:30:56,042 --> 00:30:57,125 - Tucker gets in first 736 00:30:57,417 --> 00:31:00,375 because the gunnels were only 10 inches high. 737 00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:02,833 There was some concern as to whether the boat 738 00:31:02,958 --> 00:31:04,792 would be able to carry all three men. 739 00:31:04,875 --> 00:31:07,292 - First man gets into the boat, 740 00:31:07,458 --> 00:31:08,500 goes down a little bit. 741 00:31:08,667 --> 00:31:10,250 Second man gets in, 742 00:31:10,375 --> 00:31:12,750 boat sinks a little bit lower in the water. 743 00:31:12,917 --> 00:31:14,875 Third man gets in, 744 00:31:15,042 --> 00:31:18,292 gunnels are right at about water level. 745 00:31:18,458 --> 00:31:19,333 Still good. Close. 746 00:31:19,583 --> 00:31:22,208 It's still good, but again, it's now or never. 747 00:31:22,375 --> 00:31:24,208 - The moment of truth is upon them. 748 00:31:24,375 --> 00:31:27,667 They have to paddle away, so easier said than done, 749 00:31:27,792 --> 00:31:30,167 because nobody knows whether this boat 750 00:31:30,292 --> 00:31:33,042 is even going to last more than 30 seconds. 751 00:31:33,208 --> 00:31:35,708 It might sink right there under guard tower #4. 752 00:31:35,833 --> 00:31:37,042 That would be pretty embarrassing. 753 00:31:37,125 --> 00:31:38,917 ♪ 754 00:31:39,042 --> 00:31:42,000 - No one has ever escaped San Quentin by boat, 755 00:31:42,125 --> 00:31:44,458 and so far, it's not looking like 756 00:31:44,625 --> 00:31:46,667 their boat will keep afloat long enough 757 00:31:46,750 --> 00:31:48,708 to take them to freedom. 758 00:31:48,833 --> 00:31:50,833 They know that if they are spotted, 759 00:31:51,042 --> 00:31:52,875 the guards will have their orders-- 760 00:31:53,042 --> 00:31:55,125 shoot to kill. 761 00:31:59,458 --> 00:32:02,333 [dramatic music] 762 00:32:02,417 --> 00:32:03,833 ♪ 763 00:32:04,042 --> 00:32:05,667 - It takes less than two weeks 764 00:32:05,833 --> 00:32:08,458 to plan and prepare, 765 00:32:08,625 --> 00:32:12,667 but Forrest Tucker and his two accomplices now implement 766 00:32:12,875 --> 00:32:15,583 an unbelievable scheme 767 00:32:15,708 --> 00:32:18,417 to escape from San Quentin 768 00:32:18,583 --> 00:32:21,167 in a handmade kayak. 769 00:32:21,333 --> 00:32:24,458 They're willing to bet their lives 770 00:32:24,583 --> 00:32:26,250 it will work. 771 00:32:26,458 --> 00:32:28,333 ♪ 772 00:32:28,542 --> 00:32:31,833 - And so when Waller finally gets into the boat, 773 00:32:31,958 --> 00:32:33,292 there's still distance 774 00:32:33,542 --> 00:32:36,667 between the water and the top of the sides of the boat, 775 00:32:36,833 --> 00:32:38,458 and they start paddling away, 776 00:32:38,542 --> 00:32:40,625 and there isn't a drop of water 777 00:32:40,792 --> 00:32:41,917 coming in from the bottom. 778 00:32:42,292 --> 00:32:45,667 Once they realize that, that this boat is not going to sink, 779 00:32:45,875 --> 00:32:48,083 they paddled madly 780 00:32:48,250 --> 00:32:49,208 to get out into what's called 781 00:32:49,542 --> 00:32:52,083 the Corte Madera Channel, otherwise to get away 782 00:32:52,208 --> 00:32:53,875 from the wharf and to get out into the channel 783 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:55,333 where other boats often were. 784 00:32:55,542 --> 00:32:58,833 So that's the place where they might be seen 785 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:03,167 as just normal citizens out having a boat ride. 786 00:33:03,375 --> 00:33:06,333 - The conditions in the water are not they have expected. 787 00:33:06,458 --> 00:33:09,000 The wind is blowing more than 20 miles an hour. 788 00:33:09,208 --> 00:33:10,958 The water is choppy. 789 00:33:11,125 --> 00:33:13,667 - But the newest members of the yacht club 790 00:33:13,833 --> 00:33:18,625 are now out in plain view of the manned guard tower. 791 00:33:18,708 --> 00:33:20,500 ♪ 792 00:33:20,667 --> 00:33:21,583 - And they know that 793 00:33:21,875 --> 00:33:24,125 there's one final obstacle ahead of them. 794 00:33:24,250 --> 00:33:26,125 They passed an unmanned tower, 795 00:33:26,292 --> 00:33:28,167 but there's gonna be one manned tower left, 796 00:33:28,292 --> 00:33:29,292 and they just hoped that their 797 00:33:29,667 --> 00:33:32,542 counterfeit Marin County yacht club uniforms, 798 00:33:32,708 --> 00:33:36,083 along with their boat, are going to pass muster. 799 00:33:36,208 --> 00:33:38,000 - They're frantically paddling. 800 00:33:38,125 --> 00:33:40,042 The boat is watertight, 801 00:33:40,208 --> 00:33:42,000 but the water was coming over the sides, 802 00:33:42,167 --> 00:33:44,917 and they had no means to bail, 803 00:33:45,083 --> 00:33:47,542 so they're frantically, frantically paddling. 804 00:33:47,708 --> 00:33:48,833 - The water is so choppy 805 00:33:48,958 --> 00:33:51,208 that the boat begins to take on water. 806 00:33:51,375 --> 00:33:52,667 ♪ 807 00:33:52,833 --> 00:33:56,125 And begins to sink. 808 00:33:56,333 --> 00:33:58,167 - This is their last choke point 809 00:33:58,333 --> 00:34:00,542 in the shipping lane to freedom. 810 00:34:00,708 --> 00:34:07,417 ♪ 811 00:34:07,542 --> 00:34:09,375 - This one guard spotted them from the shore, 812 00:34:09,542 --> 00:34:11,417 and thinking that it's one of the yachtsmen, 813 00:34:11,542 --> 00:34:12,417 sees what's happening. 814 00:34:12,750 --> 00:34:15,500 - He asked them if they're okay, and then McGirk, 815 00:34:15,625 --> 00:34:17,417 who is really kind of a taciturn, 816 00:34:17,583 --> 00:34:20,042 quiet type person, who you don't see 817 00:34:20,167 --> 00:34:22,125 very much of this, had the greatest line, 818 00:34:22,292 --> 00:34:24,208 because he looked at his bare wrist-- 819 00:34:24,375 --> 00:34:26,125 nothing on the wrist-- and he looked at the guard, 820 00:34:26,250 --> 00:34:28,750 hailing them and said, "Everything's okay. 821 00:34:28,917 --> 00:34:30,542 My Timex is still running." 822 00:34:30,708 --> 00:34:37,583 ♪ 823 00:34:39,167 --> 00:34:41,667 - As unbelievable as it might sound, 824 00:34:41,792 --> 00:34:42,833 it works. 825 00:34:43,208 --> 00:34:45,250 The guard assumes they are who they say they are. 826 00:34:45,375 --> 00:34:47,000 He radios in to say that, "No, 827 00:34:47,208 --> 00:34:49,083 "these are just some kayakers. 828 00:34:49,208 --> 00:34:52,292 They're gonna be fine." Goes about his day. 829 00:34:52,458 --> 00:34:55,042 - Just as they get outside 830 00:34:55,208 --> 00:34:58,375 of the San Quentin property line, 831 00:34:58,500 --> 00:35:00,417 the boat sinks. 832 00:35:00,583 --> 00:35:02,250 They're too heavy. 833 00:35:02,375 --> 00:35:09,292 ♪ 834 00:35:12,708 --> 00:35:14,667 All three men desperately 835 00:35:14,750 --> 00:35:17,792 cling to the boat and begin kicking furiously, 836 00:35:17,875 --> 00:35:19,708 trying to get to shore. 837 00:35:19,875 --> 00:35:26,750 ♪ 838 00:35:29,417 --> 00:35:31,667 The men make it to shore-- 839 00:35:31,750 --> 00:35:34,583 tired, wet, freezing cold, 840 00:35:34,708 --> 00:35:36,417 but now free. 841 00:35:36,542 --> 00:35:39,500 So while the plan didn't go exactly as they had hoped-- 842 00:35:39,667 --> 00:35:42,208 they didn't sail all the way to Australia-- 843 00:35:42,333 --> 00:35:44,000 they made it as far as they needed to 844 00:35:44,083 --> 00:35:47,708 just outside the wall of San Quentin prison. 845 00:35:47,833 --> 00:35:50,708 - They are only a few yards from San Quentin, 846 00:35:50,875 --> 00:35:54,167 but they are also only a few yards from freedom. 847 00:35:54,292 --> 00:35:55,708 - San Quentin was on the water, 848 00:35:55,833 --> 00:35:58,167 but San Quentin was also surrounded by Marin. 849 00:35:58,333 --> 00:35:59,167 So you would go in the water, 850 00:35:59,458 --> 00:36:01,458 go a few places down, jump out the water, 851 00:36:01,625 --> 00:36:03,458 and you'd be right there on the city street. 852 00:36:03,542 --> 00:36:06,375 - Standing on the beach with his two accomplices, 853 00:36:06,542 --> 00:36:09,292 Tucker recognizes that this has been a team effort, 854 00:36:09,458 --> 00:36:11,083 which is somewhat unusual for him, 855 00:36:11,208 --> 00:36:12,500 but he also knows that 856 00:36:12,667 --> 00:36:15,542 if he's going to finish this escape, 857 00:36:15,708 --> 00:36:17,708 he needs to go it alone from here on out. 858 00:36:17,917 --> 00:36:21,792 - Once the we-just-got-out- of-jail adrenaline kicks in, 859 00:36:21,917 --> 00:36:24,500 Tucker reverts to his lone-wolf personality 860 00:36:24,708 --> 00:36:26,792 and turns and runs. 861 00:36:26,958 --> 00:36:29,042 It must have been a surprise for the other two men, 862 00:36:29,208 --> 00:36:30,833 or maybe not. 863 00:36:31,000 --> 00:36:32,542 We will never know. 864 00:36:32,667 --> 00:36:34,583 But as far as Tucker is concerned, 865 00:36:34,750 --> 00:36:36,833 San Quentin has been vanquished. 866 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:40,208 Escape #18 is in the books. 867 00:36:40,375 --> 00:36:42,792 It's time to scram. 868 00:36:42,958 --> 00:36:45,250 ♪ 869 00:36:45,375 --> 00:36:47,417 - I do know where John Waller went. 870 00:36:47,583 --> 00:36:50,333 He took himself right down to the Larkspur ferry terminal 871 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:53,417 and called a cab, and he jumped in the cab, 872 00:36:53,542 --> 00:36:55,667 and he told the cabbie that his sailboat had sunk. 873 00:36:55,792 --> 00:36:57,667 That's why he was all wet. 874 00:36:57,792 --> 00:36:59,167 Incredible story. 875 00:36:59,250 --> 00:37:00,500 - To this day, no one knows 876 00:37:00,667 --> 00:37:03,583 where exactly McGirk got off to. 877 00:37:03,708 --> 00:37:06,667 But with so much suburban Marin County nearby, 878 00:37:06,833 --> 00:37:09,333 the three men managed to blend in quickly 879 00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:11,625 and make their way out of the general area 880 00:37:11,792 --> 00:37:14,417 before their escape was uncovered. 881 00:37:14,542 --> 00:37:19,125 ♪ 882 00:37:19,250 --> 00:37:21,125 - It's not until later in the afternoon 883 00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:22,500 during roll call 884 00:37:22,917 --> 00:37:26,792 that the prison guards realize that they are three men short. 885 00:37:26,875 --> 00:37:29,417 - There had been that report from guard tower #5 886 00:37:29,542 --> 00:37:31,375 to the control tower. 887 00:37:31,500 --> 00:37:33,542 He began to put two and two together. 888 00:37:33,708 --> 00:37:35,667 - [chuckles] 889 00:37:35,833 --> 00:37:39,458 When the guards find a kayak named Rub-a-Dub-Dub, 890 00:37:39,625 --> 00:37:43,292 no one laughs, especially the warden. 891 00:37:43,417 --> 00:37:45,333 California state and local law enforcement 892 00:37:45,500 --> 00:37:48,625 unleash a statewide manhunt. 893 00:37:48,792 --> 00:37:49,875 ♪ 894 00:37:53,958 --> 00:37:56,833 [dramatic music] 895 00:37:56,917 --> 00:38:01,667 ♪ 896 00:38:01,875 --> 00:38:03,958 - The boat escape from San Quentin Prison 897 00:38:04,125 --> 00:38:06,833 becomes a major news story 898 00:38:07,042 --> 00:38:09,542 and a major embarrassment. 899 00:38:09,667 --> 00:38:11,667 The authorities are not going to rest 900 00:38:11,875 --> 00:38:15,667 until they catch and punish Forrest Tucker 901 00:38:15,792 --> 00:38:18,333 and his accomplices. 902 00:38:18,417 --> 00:38:21,333 - There is mass confusion 903 00:38:21,375 --> 00:38:24,458 after they learn that these men have escaped. 904 00:38:24,583 --> 00:38:27,000 This looks incredibly bad for the prison. 905 00:38:27,167 --> 00:38:28,667 - They kept searching the prison 906 00:38:28,792 --> 00:38:30,333 because they didn't wanna give up on the idea 907 00:38:30,500 --> 00:38:32,000 that they were in the prison. 908 00:38:32,125 --> 00:38:33,125 They searched the hills 909 00:38:33,500 --> 00:38:35,958 just outside of San Quentin across the road. 910 00:38:36,042 --> 00:38:37,042 They searched the brush. 911 00:38:37,125 --> 00:38:39,167 - They begin a massive manhunt 912 00:38:39,333 --> 00:38:40,542 while the warden begins talking about 913 00:38:40,708 --> 00:38:42,542 the need to have some kind of barrier 914 00:38:42,708 --> 00:38:45,000 to make sure no boats come in or out. 915 00:38:45,167 --> 00:38:48,125 It's a debacle. 916 00:38:48,333 --> 00:38:50,167 - Part of Forrest Tucker's genius was that 917 00:38:50,250 --> 00:38:53,375 he could disappear into thin air when he needed to. 918 00:38:53,542 --> 00:38:55,542 As for the other two sailors, 919 00:38:55,708 --> 00:38:58,292 they lacked Tucker's imagination. 920 00:38:58,375 --> 00:39:01,583 Neither of them ever leave California. 921 00:39:01,708 --> 00:39:05,458 ♪ 922 00:39:05,542 --> 00:39:07,667 - So McGirk was captured in October. 923 00:39:07,833 --> 00:39:10,042 He was not out very long, obviously, 924 00:39:10,208 --> 00:39:12,542 and he was captured in San Rafael 925 00:39:12,750 --> 00:39:15,583 near the apartment of his then-girlfriend 926 00:39:15,750 --> 00:39:18,000 just a couple of months after he escaped. 927 00:39:18,125 --> 00:39:23,000 ♪ 928 00:39:23,125 --> 00:39:26,417 - Waller was captured in April of the next year, 929 00:39:26,542 --> 00:39:29,083 and he was captured in Gilroy, California, 930 00:39:29,208 --> 00:39:31,250 which is maybe about a hundred miles 931 00:39:31,417 --> 00:39:32,667 from San Quentin. 932 00:39:32,833 --> 00:39:35,500 - Despite not having their ringleader captured, 933 00:39:35,583 --> 00:39:37,042 the state is embarrassed enough 934 00:39:37,208 --> 00:39:40,375 that they go ahead with the trial without Tucker. 935 00:39:40,542 --> 00:39:42,500 But with more holes in the state's case 936 00:39:42,625 --> 00:39:45,000 against the men than in their kayak, 937 00:39:45,125 --> 00:39:48,250 the former escapees are absolved of their crimes 938 00:39:48,375 --> 00:39:52,167 after two trials end in a hung jury. 939 00:39:52,333 --> 00:39:54,167 - I don't know why the jury-- 940 00:39:54,250 --> 00:39:56,833 juries, the two juries, did what they did, 941 00:39:56,917 --> 00:39:59,625 but they were apparently amused enough by the escape 942 00:39:59,792 --> 00:40:01,042 that they refused to convict them. 943 00:40:01,208 --> 00:40:02,333 And after... [laughs] 944 00:40:02,500 --> 00:40:03,583 After two tries, 945 00:40:03,958 --> 00:40:06,292 the Marin district attorney threw up his hands and said, 946 00:40:06,458 --> 00:40:08,000 "Eh, I'm not doing it again." 947 00:40:08,167 --> 00:40:09,667 - We love the underdogs, 948 00:40:09,792 --> 00:40:12,792 and how we love people tweaking the systems, 949 00:40:12,875 --> 00:40:15,083 and how we're willing to forgive people 950 00:40:15,250 --> 00:40:17,625 who do things that are maybe not things we agree with, 951 00:40:17,750 --> 00:40:19,833 but people who do them without violence, 952 00:40:20,042 --> 00:40:22,375 with ingenuity, with a sense of humor, 953 00:40:22,500 --> 00:40:24,375 and with incredible determination, 954 00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:27,667 which is what Waller, McGirk, and Tucker did. 955 00:40:27,875 --> 00:40:30,500 - Forrest Tucker makes his way east after the escape, 956 00:40:30,708 --> 00:40:32,333 pulling a few grifts-- 957 00:40:32,500 --> 00:40:35,292 a five-finger discount here or there, 958 00:40:35,417 --> 00:40:37,417 and maybe even a robbery or two. 959 00:40:37,625 --> 00:40:40,167 But after that, trail goes cold. 960 00:40:40,333 --> 00:40:43,667 He's not one of the greatest escape artists for nothing. 961 00:40:43,833 --> 00:40:46,667 But he doesn't disappear forever. 962 00:40:46,833 --> 00:40:49,875 In 1998, he bombs back up to the surface, 963 00:40:50,042 --> 00:40:53,500 right where it all started in Florida. 964 00:40:53,667 --> 00:40:56,542 Here, he pulls off one of his last great cons: 965 00:40:56,708 --> 00:41:00,667 becoming a respectable member of society. 966 00:41:00,792 --> 00:41:03,167 - He goes down to Florida, Palm Beach County, 967 00:41:03,292 --> 00:41:04,500 which is just south of Martin County, 968 00:41:04,625 --> 00:41:05,500 which he was familiar with. 969 00:41:05,833 --> 00:41:08,500 - In the meantime, he had married a woman 970 00:41:08,625 --> 00:41:10,958 who thought that he was an investment banker. 971 00:41:11,125 --> 00:41:14,167 And when they'd go to the cocktail parties, 972 00:41:14,292 --> 00:41:15,750 he'd dress nicely and talk well 973 00:41:15,917 --> 00:41:18,333 and she just thought she'd married an investment banker 974 00:41:18,417 --> 00:41:19,417 'cause he always had plenty of money. 975 00:41:19,667 --> 00:41:22,417 - But can you teach an old dog new tricks? 976 00:41:22,583 --> 00:41:24,167 The answer is no. 977 00:41:24,292 --> 00:41:26,542 - This was not the life for Forrest Tucker. 978 00:41:26,708 --> 00:41:29,375 And after a number of years with his very sedentary life, 979 00:41:29,542 --> 00:41:31,417 he turned to robbing banks again. 980 00:41:31,542 --> 00:41:34,917 - 20 years after his escape from San Quentin, 981 00:41:35,042 --> 00:41:38,917 Forrest Tucker's life of crime comes to an end. 982 00:41:39,042 --> 00:41:41,667 ♪ 983 00:41:41,833 --> 00:41:45,208 He's arrested, and on October 20, 2000, 984 00:41:45,375 --> 00:41:47,667 Forrest Tucker, age 80, 985 00:41:47,833 --> 00:41:49,667 pleads guilty to armed robbery 986 00:41:49,833 --> 00:41:52,333 and is sentenced to 13 years. 987 00:41:52,458 --> 00:41:54,333 Because of his failing health, 988 00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:56,667 he goes to Fort Worth Medical Center, 989 00:41:56,833 --> 00:41:58,833 part of the federal correctional institution 990 00:41:59,042 --> 00:42:00,000 in Texas. 991 00:42:00,375 --> 00:42:04,375 Forrest Tucker suffers several strokes while incarcerated. 992 00:42:04,583 --> 00:42:09,083 He dies May 29, 2004 in a Texas prison. 993 00:42:09,208 --> 00:42:12,875 ♪ 994 00:42:13,000 --> 00:42:15,167 - It's interesting to romanticize 995 00:42:15,375 --> 00:42:16,667 characters like Forrest Tucker, 996 00:42:16,833 --> 00:42:18,542 and there is something romantic about him. 997 00:42:18,708 --> 00:42:20,958 There really is-- I mean, as a desperado. 998 00:42:21,042 --> 00:42:24,042 - He was like a folk hero for getting out of prison, 999 00:42:24,208 --> 00:42:25,333 you know what I'm saying, for escaping. 1000 00:42:25,625 --> 00:42:27,042 So that was one of those kind of things 1001 00:42:27,208 --> 00:42:29,042 that people talked about for a number of years. 1002 00:42:29,208 --> 00:42:30,500 And they probably still talk about it today. 1003 00:42:30,667 --> 00:42:31,750 - Forrest Tucker, 1004 00:42:32,042 --> 00:42:34,333 in spite of all the places he had escaped out of, 1005 00:42:34,500 --> 00:42:37,667 big, small, young and old Forrest, 1006 00:42:37,875 --> 00:42:41,208 that one of his best escapes was from San Quentin-- 1007 00:42:41,375 --> 00:42:43,125 his masterpiece. 1008 00:42:43,292 --> 00:42:44,917 - It is estimated 1009 00:42:45,042 --> 00:42:48,708 Forrest Tucker steals over $4 million 1010 00:42:48,875 --> 00:42:50,667 and breaks out of various prisons 1011 00:42:50,792 --> 00:42:54,958 a record 18 times over his criminal career. 1012 00:42:55,083 --> 00:42:57,000 ♪ 1013 00:42:57,167 --> 00:43:00,625 I suppose, in some way, 1014 00:43:00,750 --> 00:43:04,333 that does make him the somebody he always wanted to be. 1015 00:43:04,458 --> 00:43:06,792 ♪