During his trial ,Clyde is almost absent;he knows that the jury is hostile,as much as the populace inside and outside the courtroom,and that the prosecutor has no mercy for this first-degree murderer;he knows that the die is cast whatever his defense suggested by his lawyers may be.At noon,the wardens are having lunch, but Clyde's plate remains full as he's desperately watching the clock. The jury brings in a guilty verdict and the prisoner is sentenced to death .
—dbdumonteil