A Game of Checkers

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"A Game of Checkers" is the eighth episode of the television drama Oz.

[edit] Synopsis

The inmates go to their cells in Gen Pop where Schillinger rooms in his new cell (It appears that he has a Black cellmate despite his Aryan beliefs). When the COs lockdown for lights out, Schillinger is called a "turd" by one of the COs as his crime flashback is shown (Schillinger is in prison for the attempted murder of an African American marijuana dealer who was selling drugs to his sons). After a visit with his sons, Schillinger explains that he needs to get paroled because they are addicted to drugs and living with their grandfather, Schillinger's mentor of hate. He convinces McManus to let him return to Em City with the condition that he won't attack Beecher as if he wanted him dead, he'd already have died. McManus reluctantly agrees that Schillinger won't harm Beecher after a changed person explanation and then visits Tobias in the hole. Beecher claims that Vern hurt him in too many way beyond forgiveness and is not interested in promising no harm to Schillinger upon his release from the hole. Beecher comes out of the hole hell-bent on making sure Schillinger doesn't get paroled. He is stopped though by CO Wittlesey as Schillinger is called "asswipe" by Simon Adebisi.

McManus gets wind of Wittlesey and Ross' contraband operation and orders her to shut it down. Ross makes it very clear to her that this will not happen. The Muslims meet and discuss how the riot will begin. However, two Bikers beat them to it by starting a fight over a game of checkers. The other inmates get involved and they quickly overpower the COs who are trying to break it up. Fires break out and beatings occur, then Said orders the Muslims to get out and seize control. Said pulls out the gun he acquired from a rookie CO and fires a shot into the air, causing Em City to quiet down. Said then says "Now Let's get organized" much to the inmates agreement and as the SORT team surrounds Em City which has now been blockaded, Warden Glynn over a bullhorn asks who is in charge of the riot. The inmates begin chanting Said's name where Said then states to Glynn that a long day is ahead of them.

Said meets with Ross, Adebisi, O'Reily and Alvarez to discuss strategy and demands. Said agrees to let O'Reily, Ross and Adebisi control the main gate and Alvarez will control the hostages. Dobbins was seriously injured during the initial uprising and Hill convinces Vayhue to step up and help. Vayhue and Dobbins leave Em City only to be beaten up by SORT. The hostages require medical attention, Alvarez and Said vote in favor of a doctor. However, Adedisi, Ross and O'Reily vote no.

In the Warden's office Governor Devlin orders the National Guard to surround the prison and take it back, but Glynn and McManus think they should see the demands first. McManus volunteers, to Devlin's disgust, to enter Em City to deliver food and check on the hostages. He tries to get COs Armstrong, Mineo and Wittlesey free in exchange for himself. He gets Armstrong and Mineo released, due to their injuries but Wittlesey has to stay. After reading the demands, Glynn realizes that the prisoners are being quite reasonable, however Devlin orders the National Guard and SORT to re-take Em City anyway. Meanwhile Ross' men and Adebisi's are constantly fighting due to their racial differences, so Said tells O'Reily to switch Ross' men with Alvarez's at the front gate. A short tie later, Adebisi's men start to fiend due to the depletion of heroin, resulting in a major skirmish. Just as that situation is resolved and the Homeboys are tied up, the lights go out. Said realizes the situation and orders Ross to bring out the hostages as a front line of defense. Soon tear gas is thrown into Em City, then a forklift breaks through the barricade and gunfire rings out in Em City.

[edit] External link

• "Oz" A Game of Checkers at the Internet Movie Database