>> we never, never were able to evoke any kind of reaction from james earl ray one way or the other about dr. king or his life or otherwise. >> in july, in the middle of the night, ray was flown back to memphis in handcuffs. finally, next march, ray appeared in a memphis courtroom in a deal to avoid the death penalty. the judge asked him this -- >> you're accused of murder in the first degree charged in the indictment and are compromising and settling your case on an agreed punishment of 99 years in the state penitentiary. is this what you want to do? >> but only two weeks later from prison, ray would send a letter to the judge trying to undo that plea deal, opening the door to decades of doubt. still to come, a dramatic