Inspired by a true story. A petty criminal sent to Alcatraz is captured trying to make an escape. As punishment he is placed in solitary confinement. Henri spends alone, cold as well as in full darkness, only to emerge a mad man and so on to be considered described as a murderer, although the maximum stay is supposed to be 19 days. The story follows a rookie lawyer trying to prove that Alcatraz was at fault.