Henri Charriere

Also known as Papillion or "Papi" because a series of tattoos on his body include that of a butterfly, he is a member of the underground and is apparently a safecracker prior to his arrest. Papillion is accused of murdering a man he identifies as a "stoolie," or a police informant. Papillion claims to be innocent and apparently is applauded by his own people for not revealing the true killer. Papillion accepts his sentence with an immediate, consuming desire to escape it. He notes that even if he appeals his sentence and gets the term reduced, he would not want to remain in prison for even a shorter sentence such as twenty years. Sentenced to life, he has nothing left to do but put his efforts into escape. He does so with everything at his disposal. He has some money that he carries in his anus for...