For the last two years, the life insurance payout from the death of Douglas Pavlicek’s parents has funded his lifestyle. Now, with funds dwindling, Douglas has agreed to take part in the Stanford Prison Experiment and make $15 a day. In a realistic touch, he is dragged from his house by the real police. His neighbors spot him being read his rights, and his smirk does not convince them that this is not real.

The police take him to a prison and rechristen him Prisoner 571. The guards and inmates are all volunteers being paid to take part in the study. The guards’ liberal use of violence shows that they are playing up to their roles. At lights out, they beat one particularly truculent prisoner. Early in the morning, Douggie is ripped from his bed for a surprise inspection. By the second day, he is worrying about the experiment but reminds himself that he only needs to survive 14 days. That day, a group of prisoners revolt. Despite the shouted reminders that this is a simulation, the guards put down the protest with reinforcements and fire extinguishers. The guards begin to remove the prisoners’ privileges, such as smoking and bathroom use.