Helen Hewitt is first woman put in charge of Barfield, a maximum security prison that had been nearly destroyed by a disastrous riot. Despite being greeted with open hostility by inmates and little enthusiasm by prison staff, she is determined to clean up the place.
Officer Morgan returns from his home-leave after the hostage situation. Helen leaves the prison on a training course and the prisoners plan their biggest escape attempt yet. A prisoner holds all the officers as everyone escapes and Marshall is shot down. Helen feels responsible for what has happened even though she wasn't there and feels she has failed in what she tried to accomplish at Barfield Prison.
