Opening Shot: “Chino State Prison, 1967.” A man comes out of solitary and walks back into the general population, to the tune of “Time Has Come Today.”

The Gist: Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo) is in Chico for passing bad checks. When he comes back from the hole, he complains to his cellmate Rudy (Adam Beach) that the guards are messing with him. Rudy tells him he needs to find some sort of faith and work to make his way emotionally back to his family. He directs him to an inmate named Gus (Mykelti Williamson), who works in the chapel. Gus tells Hampton to let God — in whatever form — guide the way, citing a beatdown of an inmate named Kenny Sharp that inspired him to take his path.

Two years later, in 1969, Hampton is about to be released. He’s taken the two years to work in the machine shop with Rudy and invent a self-sharpening drill that he thinks he can pitch to Rocketcorp, thanks to his friendship with Manny Brinks (Jeremy Bobb), who works there. But a riot starts in the machine shop, accompanied by a burst pipe and Hampton accidentally shanking someone close to him.