| During the early 1980s in Louisiana, two brothers, Joseph and Anthony De Rocher, are convicted of rape and murder of a teenage couple. Anthony is sentenced to life in prison, while Joseph is put on death row.
Many months later, a young nun, Sister Helen Prejean, who works with underprivileged children, begins corresponding with Joseph. He asks her to visit him, and she agrees. Despite discouragement from her friend, Sister Rose, Helen makes the long drive to the prison, pondering the step she is taking. She is met by the prison chaplain, Father Greenville, who is angered by the fact she came to the prison, which is no place for a woman. The warden, George Benton, warns her that Joseph is remorseless but will likely ask her to be his spiritual advisor. He walks her through death row to meet Joseph, who tests her tolerance by recalling the pleasures he has had with women, and he admits fear and asks her to be his spiritual advisor. Helen agrees.
Helen accompanies Joseph's mother, Mrs. Patrick De Rocher, to the Pardon Commission, where the mother pleads for her son's life. Helen is confronted by the parents of the murdered teens, Owen and Kitty Hart and Howard and Jade Boucher, who are outraged that a nun would console a murderer and never bother to offer comfort to them. The verdict comes back and the appeal is denied. Helen and Joseph have another meeting in which she insists that Joseph acknowledge his guilt and ask for forgiveness. Since Joseph sees no hope for redemption, he remains remorseless and refuses to accept responsibility for the crime. Helen, feeling ill, retires to a waiting room, where she feels overwhelmed by the conflicting forces confronting her.
| Joseph is told that his execution date will be August 4, at midnight. Alone in his cell, he contemplates his impending death and remembers the crime he committed. Simultaneously, Sister Helen has a troubling dream in which she sees the murdered teenagers and awakens with a scream. Sister Rose comes to console her and tells her that she still has to find in her faith the strength to forgive Joseph, just as a mother forgives her children's failings.
Helen's next meeting with Joseph is on the evening of his execution. Discovering mutual interests, they are surprised to recognize each other as friends rather than just nun and prisoner. Joseph's family arrives for a final visit, and his mother seeks comfort in remembering his carefree boyhood. Sister Helen is then left alone to contemplate what lies ahead of her. As witnesses begin to arrive for the execution, Helen is once again confronted by the parents of the murdered teenagers. Owen lags behind the others, expressing his doubts of Joseph's execution. Helen offers him friendship and advises she will visit him.
After Joseph is prepared for execution, Helen is left alone with him for a final visit. She tells him that she has visited the crime scene and begs him to confess to her what happened that night. With only minutes remaining, Joseph finally confesses and wonders if anybody could ever forgive him. Helen assures him that he has her forgiveness, but also God's. The warden escorts Joseph to the Death Chamber, as the chaplain recites the Lord's Prayer. After Joseph is strapped to the gurney for his lethal injection, he asks the parents' forgiveness. His last words are to Sister Helen: "I love you." As Joseph is executed, Sister Helen's hymn is the last thing he hears. |
