Don't Answer the Phone! (1980) - full transcript

A deeply disturbed photographer and Vietnam veteran, named Kirk Smith, terrorizes Los Angeles by going around strangling lingerie-clad young women in their homes while taunting Lindsay Gale, a young psychologist, by calling her on a radio call-in show to describe his sexual hang-ups and misogynistic ways, while a local police detective, Lt. McCable, is always two steps behind in trying to catch the psycho.

- Hello dori?

- Hi mom!

- Aunt Sophie's back home!

- Hey that's great,
I'm really glad to know

aunt Sophie's out
of that hospital.

Even though she lives in Florida

and I've only met her twice.

- Don't you care
about your family?

- Of course I care
about the family.

- Well what are
you gonna do tonight?

- Uh, I guess I'm just
gonna stay home tonight.



Yeah, you know, watch
some TV and rest.

- Alone?

- Yeah alone!

- Well I'm alone too.

- Yeah we're two lonely people.

- I'll come right over.

- Um, not tonight mom.

I'll see you tomorrow.

- You never want to see me.

Don't you care about
your mother anymore?

- Of course I do!

- I love you!

- Well I love you too, mom!

And I'll see you tomorrow, okay?



- I coming up tomorrow and I'm
- uh huh.

- Gonna rearrange your life.
- Yeah.

- I have a lot

- yes.
- Of ideas that I think

I should throw against

the wall.
- Yeah.

Look mom we'll talk
about it tomorrow, okay?

Okay, 'night.

- The city's
fifth rape-murder victim

of the month was just
found this morning,

leading police to
speculate that we may have

a mad killer-rapist
prowling our streets.

Each of the victims has
been strangled to death

and there have been
similarities of sexual abuse

and disposition of the bodies.

Women in the Los Angeles
area are urged to use caution

when venturing outside,
most especially after dark.

Now on a somewhat
more positive note,

the weatherman has promised
another beautiful day today

with a civic center high of 82,

dipping down to an
overnight low of 66.

- Pardon me, I'm a photographer
scouting for new models...

- And that's it for another
edition of kvla news.

What's up doc?
- Yeah did you put 'em

to sleep again?

- You bet I did.

Hang on, coming up.

Good morning, welcome
to the last segment

of kvla's dayline, hosted
by Dr. Lindsay Gale.

Dr. Gale is a
practicing psychologist

licensed by the state
board of medicine.

- Here's my card if you'd like

to have me take
your photographs.

- Hey what do you
think you're doing?

I've been sitting around
the corner in the car

waiting for half an hour.

- Okay I was standing
here waiting for you.

- Yeah talking to some creep.

Come on, let's go.

- She's authored two books
on abnormal psychology.

In keeping with station policy,

we ask callers not to disclose
their personal identities.

And now, Dr. Gale.

- Thank you and good
morning out there.

Before we begin again
I'd like to remind you

that this program is not
designed to treat people

with serious mental illnesses.

I can't provide in-depth
therapy over-the-air so,

in these few short hours
I try to deal with people

who are facing a
temporary problem or two.

And remember, any
subject is fair game,

sex, marriage,
children, whatever.

Good morning you're
on-the-air with Lindsay Gale!

- My name is Cathy.

My little boy ties up his
toys in ropes and chains

and throws them
against the wall.

- Sounds like
a very angry young man.

- He also cut up
his goldfish with scissors

and he threatened to do the
same thing to his little sister.

Do you think I should do
something about his behavior?

- I'm going to put you
with Fred and he will

refer you to a therapy
group who can help you.

Thank you.

Good morning you're on-the-air
with Dr. Lindsay Gale.

- Hello Dr. Gale!

'(O soy Ramona!

How are you!

I called you last week!

- Of course the man
with the headaches.

How are you feeling today?

- I feel real good.

- Fine.

Did you see a doctor about
those tests we talked about?

Ramona'?

- I mean it's all right, 'cause,

I'm-a lots better now!

- I'd like to believe that,

but you don't
sound better to me.

Please consider what
we discussed last week,

will you do that for me ramone?

- But I do feel better!

I have found the
answer to my problems!

Ptha!

A nurse, you know, a real
good woman.

- That's very fortunate
for you ramone.

However I don't think
that a relationship

with a woman is exactly what
you're needing right now.

Tell me how does she
feel about the problem?

Ramona'?

Hello ramone?

Ramona!

- Carter?
- Yes sir!

- Get me a shot of this.

- Yes sir.

- Did you get a
shot of that breast?

- Which one?

She's got two you know.

- The one that was nearly
bitten off, god-dammit.

Give me a mold of that breast,

'cause I want to take
some tooth impressions.

- Hey, I already have.

Very healthy lady.

- Hey you're a very funny man

but the last thing
I need in my life

right now is a comedian, okay?

Now was she sexually assaulted?

- Whoo, every orifice she's got.

- Anything else?

- Well I got a sperm sample,

I got a sample of his skin

that was underneath
her fingernails.

And I got six pieces of hair,

it looks like four from his head

and I got a couple of pubics.

- Pubic hairs.

Hey McCabe.

That candy wrapper
that was found,

is that the same brand
kogen and mcclosky found

at the first murders?

What do you got babe?

- A piece of burnt
cardboard from a film box.

In the ashtray here.

Carter?
- Yes sir!

- Look around for
a camera, will you?

- Yes sir!

- Hey, make a note
on those stockings,

see if it's the same brand
found at the first murders.

The knot looks the same.

- Oh...

What's with this hatch?

- Oriental style, popular
with the viet cong.

But what I can't figure out,

is why bother with the coin.

- Hatch the coin's obvious.

The girl's response is probably
simulated sexual excitement,

so he just twists the
stocking, on and off,

back and forth like
a water faucet.

He must have kept her
squirming for several minutes.

- That sick son of a bitch.

Maybe we're looking
for a Vietnam vet?

- Could be.

- Great, we got his pubic hairs,

now we can match them
with every known vet

in L.A. and get our man.

- I want this bastard.

- Hello Carl.

- Hi Dr. Gale.

Can I see you today?

- Uh, I have someone coming
in right now, can you wait?

- Okay-

- okay great, come on in.

- At uh, at night
he'd hang around,

and watch me undress, and,
and then he'd touch me.

- And you let him?

Do you always,

did you always let your
father have his way

even though you
felt it was wrong?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

He'd yell at me, you know...

And I, and I, I couldn't
stand to have him

get mad at me and yell,
, I couldn't stand it.

- Do you still give in
and go out of your way

to avoid conflicts
and arguments?

- Mm hmm, yeah,
I uh, I can't uh,

yeah I can't, yeah
I get nervous.

And, uh, I can't stand it when

somebody gets angry with me,
I just get very frightened.

- It's the problem area
you have to work on.

You must learn to
assert yourself.

You have to believe that
your feelings do count,

and that what you
feel does matter,

and that you have a right
to express what you feel.

- I'm trying.

- No trying's not good enough,

you have to really truly
care about yourself Carol.

You should learn to do
good things for yourself.

You deserve it.

- I think I deserve you.

Assert myself, yeah.

- Our time's up for today.

- Okay-

- will you set up your
next appointment with sue?

- For next week?

- Yeah.
- Same time?

Okay.
- Okay?

And have a good day.

- Oh I will.

- All right.

Assert yourself!

Right.

- You know, now is a
really good time to have

a strangler on the streets.

I can really use the
money this month.

Only you know what, I bet
the guy lives in Fresno.

I bet he's out of town.

I bet he just comes in oh
maybe a couple of times a week

to have a good time, get
drunk, kill a couple of people

, you know what I mean?

- Would you take your
feet off of my desk?

- In a minute Gladys.

You probably haven't
noticed, but I'm resting.

- In two minutes I'm gonna
break both your legs!

The way I have it figured,

he knocked somebody
off last night,

and so the city's safe for
three, four, five days.

They can sleep well
tonight Gladys.

Tonight there is no problem.

- No-o-o-o...
- It's all right,

don't be scared.

- No-o-o-o, no...

- You're daddy's little girl.

- Yeah don't hurt me...
- And daddy loves his

little girl.

- Don't hurt me.

Do-o-o-o-n't...
- Shhh!

Daddy wants his girl.

- Nooooo...

You're gonna hurt me...

- Nobody's gonna hurt you.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Why I love you.

It's all right.

- I'll do anything!

- I know you will,

you'll do everything.

- Noooo!

- Oh, you're so pretty.

Oh, it's all right,

it's all right.

It's all right.

Your skin has gotten so,

so white, and beautiful.

You're just so lovely,
you're just so lovely.

Oh, ooo, you're so beautiful.

- Not that!
- No no no no, it's all right,

daddy's here, daddy's here,

daddy's here to protect you.

Daddy loves his little baby.

Daddy wants his little baby.

- Daddy.

- Oh yeah, oh yes.

Oh yeah.

- Shhh...

- What are you doing!

- In honor of the father.

- Nooooo!

Nooooo!

Nooooooo!

- From the murder last night

we have even more reason
to believe the killer

may have a confused sense
of religious values,

may see himself as acting
out certain purifying,

and cleansing rituals,
with the victim.

Now a scientific description
of the strangler's type

behavior would be
paranoid, obsessive,

compulsive, psychotic,
schizophrenic.

This can probably
be attributed to

an important early
figure in his life,

most likely a dominant female.

- Excuse me doctor.

We can't rely on all this
mumbo-jumbo psycho crap!

- Well excuse me,
am I boring you?

- No of course not.

Do you have anything
else you'd like to say?

- Eh, no, that's all, for now.

- We'll continue these
meetings at a later date.

Thank you.

Welcome to the
strangler task force.

I want you all to pay attention,

the chief has arranged
for the top people

in our departments
to be here today.

Sargent hatcher and I have
been to these murder sites

and they are gruesome.

We've been appointed
as number one team.

Hatch?

- Smith, compile a complete
list of all the murder victims.

Their employment history
and where they banked.

Castle, check out all store
billings, dental and medical.

Williamson, I want you

to read everything
the news media prints

or has printed
regarding this case.

And Clark, check out cab
pick up and drop lists.

Sherman, you and your
partner follow up thoroughly

on all imitators and confessors.

Tarino, follow up on laundry
dry cleaning marks and labels.

Green, set up a 24-hour hotline.

If there are any questions
regarding this meeting,

you bring them to sargent
hatcher's attention or mine.

Now let's go get him!

Now let's go hutch.

More late hours.

- There goes
my date this Saturday night.

Huh!

- Recognize this young lady?

~ oh!

It's Carol ridulch.

It's quite a shock you
brought me today, how can I help?

How can I help you?

- Well I'd like to know
a little more about her.

Her, uh, men friends, family,
what kind of job she had.

Living pattern.

Do you have a file
that I could see?

- A therapeutic file is
out of your province.

- Even if I have a court order?

- You'll have to.

I can tell you that she
was a shy, withdrawn girl.

She was alone, no
family or nuptial ties.

- Don't you give a shit

about getting this
strangler off the streets?

- What would you prescribe
for the man, a firing squad?

- That's not a bad idea.

Mainly I don't want
him back on the streets

in a few years, or sooner,
if some misguided shrink

discovers he can find his ass
in the dark with both hands.

- Lieutenant, truthfully,

I think it's people with
the mentality like yours

that are responsible
for creating

troubled people
like the strangler.

- Truthfully doctor, I was
hoping for more cooperation.

Here's a show cause writ,
from judge silverman,

notarized this morning.

Keep it, it belongs to you.

I'll need those files, now.

- Fuck off!

- Bitch!

- Wow, so this is what

a photography studio
really looks like.

- More coffee?

- No thanks.

I can't believe I'm this lucky.

I'm in L.A. two weeks and
I get picked up hitchhiking

by a photographer
who needs a model.

My friends back in Indiana
are gonna be knocked out

when they see me on the
cover of a magazine.

It's all like a
dream to me, really.

- Yes, it is like a dream.

You know, sue Ellen,
hitchhiking in California

can be very dangerous.

I think you should
be careful, honey.

- You're telling me!

One guy stopped and asked
if I'd give him head.

Imagine, I mean, that would
never happen back in Indiana.

But I can trust you, huh?

- Of course you can.

Now, why don't you go in
there and get dressed,

and I'll fix up the studio.

There are a few things I
have to take care of, then,

then we'll get started.

- All right!

- That's good, enjoy
it, enjoy it, oh yeah,

oh yeah, beautiful.

Honey you're a natural.

You are a natural.

I love it, I love it.

Easy, good good, good,
good, wet your lips.

Wet 'em, wet 'em, wet
'em, wet 'em, wet 'em...

Good.

Down, chin down.

That's right.

Wet your lips a little more.

Okay...

Now, okay take a break.

Good sue Ellen, good girl.

Good girl, I'm proud of
you, you are a natural.

Let me see, hair looks good,

okay, let's do the part
when your caught, all right?

- What's that for?

- Oh, this is how they
transport prisoners.

I'm just gonna pull these
down, nothing's gonna show,

nothing's gonna show.

Gang girl always wears her
leather jacket out, and this,

goes under there.
- You must do a lot

of research for this

kind of thing.
- My dear, sue Ellen,

this is the secret
to my success.

Lots and lots of research.

Okay...

Let me get those
handcuffs for you,

I don't want you to
be hurt now, okay?

This goes in here, okay?

Gonna go real easy.

- No, I'm okay.

This is gonna be wild.

- For real, that's
what they want,

they want the most bizarre
shots in the whole world.

I can't believe it.

Okay let me back you up
under the light honey.

- Is this spot good?

- Oh yeah, oh that's perfect,

that is perfect.

Hair's good, all right.

Okay.

- What's that all about?

- Oh this project asks
for a religious motif.

It's really not...

- Um, I think you
better give me the keys,

for these okay?

- The keys?
- Yeah, where are

the keys for these?
- Oh here if you want 'em!

Oh, lovely...

Oh...

Oh I like you.

Oh I love you.

Oh I love it!

I love it!

- This one's enough to make me vomit.

- They all are.

It's the stranglers
m.O. All right.

But now we know that
he uses a stocking

from the previous victim.

- Hey that's great, now
we got him on petty theft,

along with murder.

- No attempt to
conceal the body.

It's almost like he wanted
her to be discovered.

Well we'll get a recognizable
picture of her face

and get it to McCabe and hatcher

for a quick ID on the street.

- McCabe and hatch.

Those bozos.

If it was up to me,

I'd fire 'em.

- You're gonna have
to come to terms

with your drug problem,
Lisa, that's real important.

- I just can't help that.

That's...

It's a vicious circle.

- Look Lisa, um,

there's a lot more to
it than that, okay?

I want you to try
something for me.

I want you to close your eyes.

Come on just close your eyes.

Okay, good, now, um,

I know that you care for me,

but I want you to tell me

that the drugs are
more important than me.

- Oh come on I really
don't feel that way.

- I want you to say it anyway.

And I want you to
tell your boyfriend,

I want you to tell him
that you love the drugs

more than you love him.

Now go ahead.

Try it.

- Doctor Gale, the drugs
are more important than you.

- All right now tell you
boyfriend, go ahead, louder.

- Marty, the drugs are
more important than you.

- All right try
it again, louder,

I want you to tell me again.

- Dr. Gale, the drugs are
more important than you.

- Now your parents, much louder.

- Mom, dad, the drugs are
more important than you!

- All right we're
starting to get there.

Tell your boyfriend.

- Marty, the drugs are
more important than you!

- All right Lisa now I
want you to tell me again,

I want you to say it louder.

- Dr. Gale, the drugs are
more important than you!

- All right, now tell
your parents, louder!

- Mom, dad, the drugs are
more important than you!

- All right get it
out again, louder!

- Mommy, daddy, the drugs
are more important than you!

- Louder Lisa!

- Oh, Marty, the drugs are
more important than you!

The more...

They're more important
than everything.

They are.

- Okay, that's pretty good Lisa.

Okay now you know that
you can help yourself.

Because you do know
now that the drugs are

much more important
than anything.

Okay?

Lisa you should feel
good about yourself,

that's a major breakthrough.

- Yes sir, yes sir!

McCabe, I got a deal for you.

I just talked to daley.

He's sending us a psychic.

- Come on!

- I mean it, a real psychic.

I mean, this guy's
supposed to be good.

He senses magnetic vibrations,

and he can see things in
places he's never been.

- McCabe here.

- I am Mr. Demetrius.

- Hatchet.

- Good afternoon detectives.

- That's one for one.

- I sense you are not
happy with this meeting,

that you think nothing
will come of it.

- Two for two.

- We shall see
what we shall see.

Your ex-wife, Kathleen,

didn't like your
sense of humor either.

Would you please give me the
photograph of the victim.

In your desk drawer.

I must have something to touch
from the scene of the crime.

- This is a photograph of
the strangler's last victim.

- I see...

A woman, trying to get away.

A man grabs her,
he's, he's a big man.

He has short curly
hair, like little wires.

He has big lips, and big
arms, he's a very big man.

He hits her.

He, he tears off her underwear
and stuffs it in her mouth.

He's taking a stocking
from his pocket,

the stocking is
from another victim.

Now he puts, he puts
a coin on her throat,

he wraps the stocking
around her neck,

and he's choking her
while he enters her.

Now he, now he caresses her.

He has, he has an
orgasm, on her stomach,

now he's taking
off her stocking,

now he's pushes her
legs very wide apart.

And he's, he's
photographing her.

He's photographing her again.

Now he's leaving.

She's dead.

- Hatch.

- Huh?

- Read him his
rights and book him.

He knows too much.

- Boy you sure made
an asshole of yourself

when you busted that psychic.

I thought daley was
gonna have a heart attack

when you told him.

Imagine, busting
his wife's psychic!

Hey, how were you
supposed to know that he

was on world tour
and 7000 miles away

when the murders happened, huh?

- Very nice.

Good stuff and good taste.

You know you do good work kid.

I mean it, nice lighting,
nice props, hen.

Brass lamp, hair dryers,
baseball bats, really phallic.

Very classy.

Jesus, what the hell's this?

The kid with dog teeth,

candle stuck in her
mouth and up her pants?

That's a little kinky isn't it?

- Not for publication,
private stock.

- Hey!

Let me have another look.

It might be okay, I
might be able to use it.

- No!

- That's the way you
want it kid, okay.

Okay listen, I want you to
get me some more tasty stuff,

some pretty girls
huh, you understand?

No fuckin' amputees, okay?

Here's your check, I'll
see you a little while.

Okay?

This stuff is great.

Hey the dyke shots are good too.

- Hey man how you doing?

- How you doing?

- Waiting for school to let out?

- Those kids are
my best customers.

What do you need?

- A spoon of smack,
two grams of coke.

- It's gonna cost 'ya.

- Hey man I've got the bread.

- Hey handsome, enjoy the show?

Want some of the real thing.

Hey we'll just walk
along together.

Listen, I teach French
real cheap, huh?

Give you a good deal
on some half-and-half.

- How much?

- I don't talk
price on the street,

but look, there's a
pad across the street.

Room 214.

We can talk inside.

- What are you shooting, horse?

Hey, I know a mainliner
when I see one.

- What's it to you, fucker?

- Want to do some speed ball?

- You shitting me honey?

- Listen, like you
wouldn't believe.

If I like what I see,
you get some, okay?

- Let's go.

- I'll be all right in
a couple of minutes.

- That's all right baby.

- Something you can do for me.

- Anything at all.

- I want you to
make a phone call.

- Good morning,
you're on-the-air

with Dr.
Lindsay Gale.

- Hello Dr. Gale.

Uh, my, my name's Denise,

and I wanted to talk to you

about my profession.

See, I'm, I'm a, a, I'm a hoo...

Prostitute, and I
ain't happy with

how I make my living, um,

or my lack of education.

See I have never, I've never
done any other kind of work.

My mother got me
into this, um...

- And you want to try
something else now?

Maybe train for
some kind of career?

- Yeah, yeah I'd
like to do that.

But, but see doc, I got
another problem, uh,

I'm, I'm kind of into
drugs, you know, and...

- Yes that doesn't help.

You're high on something
now aren't you Denise?

- Yeah.

Matter of fact I am.

Um, one of my John's,
he asked me to call you.

He's sitting here
with me right now.

- Well that's a programming
first I must say.

- Yeah, he says he's
a regular caller.

Let, he's got headache problems.

But that ain't his only
problem, see, he can't...

- Denise?

Hello?

Denise?

Denise, are you there?

Denise?

My god!

Are you there?

- You hear that Dr. Gale?

- Oh my god!

- This is for your troubles.

- Dr. Gale!

You asked for me?

- No, captain daley
referred me to you.

It's about the strangler.

- Yeah, our man
is good as caught.

In a moment we'll have
a complete profile

courtesy of Dr. Gale.

- Excuse me, I am not
here to be the target

of your half-assed sarcasm.

Captain daley thinks I have
something to contribute,

are you interested or not?

- Yes, uh, we're a little tired,

so will you please
sit down and continue?

- Thank you.

Today a prostitute named
Denise called my radio show.

I think she was the
strangler's last victim.

The call was taped,
here's a copy.

- Why was it taped?

- All calls are in
case of alleged libel

or public misinformation,
it's just station policy.

- What makes you
suspect foul play?

- It's a terrifying tape.

The call ends abruptly with
Denise screaming her head off.

There's a man's voice
on that tape also.

Now, I have another
call that was taped

with that same
man's voice on it.

The caller's name is ramone,

and I really do think that
he was with her today.

He has a frightening background.

On his first two calls he
complains of severe headaches,

brief blackouts and
other symptoms of someone

who has scar tissue
on the brain.

This could cause
uncontrollable urges to kill.

- Well doctor, are seizures
like that easily triggered?

- It wouldn't be unusual.

Bright lights and
flickering images,

loud noises, sometimes
seemingly nothing at all.

- Great.

We can run a voice
print on those tapes,

see if they match.

- Okay hatch.

Doctor, it, uh,
might be a good idea

if we kept close tabs on you.

Let's, uh, put a
stakeout at the clinic.

- I appreciate that you care.

But do keep in mind that some
of those people that I help

are not going to
be coming around

with police outside the door.

- I'm aware of that Dr.
Gale, we'll still have

a squad car cruise the radio
station and your house.

- Well I'm flattered
that you care.

- Well that's what you
pay your taxes for.

- I'm all man.

I killed and raped 'em all.

And no one can stop me,

'cause I'm too
strong, too smart,

and too good.

- Hatch, you're wearing
a hole in the floor!

Why don't you go home and chant?

- Hey this case
is making me nuts.

I can't sleep at night, huh?

- Well neither can I!

All right I'm sorry,
let's go through it again.

- Okay-

we know from the sperm
cell type, blood type,

position of the
body, the whole m.O.,

that our strangler killed
Denise, now that's for sure.

Hmm?

Okay, two, a new wrinkle.

Heroin and cocaine were
found on the premises.

So I figure our
strangler is a drug user.

No works were found,
but the autopsy report

says that Denise was full
of heroin and cocaine,

so she had to shoot herself
up with something right?

Okay, so that means
that our strangler

took the hypo kit with him.

Now, this is the thing
that really bugs me man!

Somebody else was there!

We got three
different blood types!

- I know that hatch.

- Yeah...

Maybe it was her pimp!

Darnell adkins!

- Aww, that shit ass bag
man for Bobby hammer?

- Maybe, adkins tried
to rob the strangler,

and got busted up instead, huh?

Now we've got enough snitches
to put us onto adkins,

'cause with his habit he
can't burrow too deep.

- Maybe the works
belong to adkins?

It's more logical to me.

- Yeah, maybe they
had a Daisy chain

and held a shooting party,
how the hell do I know?

All I know is, is that
if we find the works,

we either find the strangler

or somebody that's seen him.

- Well, let's go
find Darnell adkins.

- Hey fella, police department.

Do you recognize this person?

- No.

- Here, here.

- Hey hey,
winky, what's happening?

- Hey I hear you guys
are looking for Darnell?

- Yeah that's right.

- Well?
- Well what?

- 50 bucks!

- 50 bucks?

- Come on winky,
nobody's worth 50 bucks.

- 20 bucks!

10 bucks?

- What do you think hatch?

- Well, the last time
this guy gave us a tip,

he told us that the Boston
strangler was Tony Curtis.

- You mean he wasn't?

Well nobody's perfect!

- Hey winky, now you
give me the info,

and I'll decide what it's worth.

- Well he hangs outwith
this chick named hotpants,

and she works down at the
hard times massage parlor.

- That's Johnny ventura's place.

- Oh, goody, a real den of vice.

- Let's get out of here.

- Aaah!

Five?

- That beats a blank, winky.

Hi!

- Oooh, hi!

- Hello boys!

This is a private health
club and we do have

a renewable
initiation fee of $20.

- That sounds fair.

- Is there anything
else we should know?

- The only other charge is
for the shower and the sauna.

$30 a half hour, $50 an hour,

and any agreement that
you make between the girls

is absolutely
private and personal,

and works on a gratuity basis.

- Uh hmm, beautiful...

Yeah I bet you have

the ring in the trunk, hatch.

- Oh I'm thinking about it.

- Is hotpants around?

- Yeah as a matter of fact

I think she is
available, hold on.

Ricky, will you
please go to room 127?

Yeah.

We also accept all
major credit cards

and we do take cash, and
the shower is mandatory.

- Relax, we're homicide.

Vice is beneath us.

- What's this about, I mean,
you guy's got a warrant?

- No we just want to
ask a few questions,

you got nothing to worry about.

- Yeah, I kind of
like the place.

- Yeah I'm sure.

- Now which way is 127?

- Across the hall.

- It's about time my man!

It is about time,
that is good shit!

- Yeah I know that man.

Yeah.

Now where's my damn money,

so I can get out of here?

- You got it, hold on.

- It's a bust!

- What?

Shit!

Shit!

If they pin this one
on me, I'll be in

the slammer forever!
- Hey where you going

with that stuff?
- I am gonna flush this!

- Hey man are you
crazy that's good shit,

what you doing?

Shit!

- The cops probably
followed you up here!

You dumb nigger you!

- Hey who the fuck you
calling dumb, asshole breath?

Why in hell she call the cops?

The girl's just coked up anyway,

and can't flush
a fucking toilet,

and who's she call, the cops!

Here!

- Recognize this man?

- No.
- You sure you haven't

seen him before?

- No I haven't.

- Well this is Darnell adkins...

- It won't flush!

- What the fuck, once
it hits that water

it's no good to snort anymore!

- How long you been
working here rikki?

- About six months.

- You like your job?

- No.

- Well it looks like you
lost five bucks McCabe.

Another dead end.

- I am leaving, babe!

- Hey, do you want to live
to be able to fuck again?

- Eh?

- C-o-o-o-o-ps!

- Oh my god it's a bust!

- Bye, bye!

- I want my 20 bucks back!

- Give me back my underwear!

- The key,
god dammit, gimmee the key!

- Let go of my change!

- My husband will kill me!

- Get off of me you sucka!

- Don't stop now!

- That rikki's a nice kid.

- Yeah.

- It's a bust!

- Do you have an extra ring?

I didn't know vice
was called in?

- Oooo, neither did I.

- Why all those
rumors get started?

- Nah, I don't know,
shall we look in the back?

- Well there's no
one to stop us.

- Mm hmm.
- Let's go.

" Hi!"

How you doing, huh?

Everything okay, huh?

- Oh, hi!

Whoo!

- Halt, police!

Freeze!

Ah, we know who this is.

- Adkins.

God dammit!

- He was our only lead.

- Shit!

- And it's all over this shit.

Now we got to stay up all night
and make out police forms.

- What do you mean we?

I missed.

- Well dad, are you
proud of me now?

Do I measure up?

Huh?

Did you see how I took
care of that nigger?

That nigger drew a knife on me.

That mother fucker
drew a knife on me!

He thought he could kill this
white mother fucking honky!

But you made a big
fucking mistake!

'Cause I broke your
mother fucking head, pimp!

You thought you was cute
with all your white girls

from Hollywood boulevard
and Van nuys boulevard,

didn't you mother fucker?

You thought you
could beat the shit

out of this white mother fucker?

Big mistake.

No, fuck you!

See what I did to him dad?

'Cause I'm the best there is.

- Yeah, McCabe here.

Who?

Sure I know her.

Where is she?

All right I'll be
there in 10 minutes.

Shit!

- Lisa!

Don't do this to yourself.

I know we can work things out.

- I don't care.

I don't care about any of it.

- You've got your whole
life ahead of you!

- All right sargent,
how are things going?

- Yeah not too bad lieutenant,

we got the street blocked off,

we've been here about an hour.

- How long has Dr.
Gale been here?

- Black and white unit brought
her up about 15 minutes ago.

- She doing any good?

- No, why don't
you give it a try.

- I sure will.

Excuse me Dr. Gale,
this is a police matter.

- Fine lieutenant.

- Hey Lisa.

- Hey Chris.

- What kind of stunt is this?

- My last one.

- What's the matter honey?

- Everything, that's all.

- Come on in and
we'll talk it over.

- No.

- The lights bother you?

It doesn't matter.

- Want me to call your old man?

- Don't bother, I
already called him.

Told him what I
was gonna do and,

he just laughed.

He said go ahead and do it.

- What do you want, attention?

Now come on, forget it,

you'll be a four-line
blurb on page 20.

- I get the picture.

No one gives a shit.

- I'm here.

You know it's the first night
I've had off in two weeks.

Now come on we all have
our losing streaks,

give it a shot.

- Go to hell.

- You know something?

That fall's not gonna
hurt you one bit.

It's just the sudden stop.

Besides, it's against the
law to commit suicide.

Now get your ass in here
before you catch a cold.

~ oh!

- Come on!

- Oh Lisa!

Listen, I want you to go to
the hospital in the ambulance.

And I'll stop by
tomorrow to see you,

and we're gonna have a talk
tomorrow after you feel better.

I think maybe you need
a little bit more help

than I can give you.

- I'll talk to you later.

Sargent would you take over?

- Good work lieutenant.

- Thanks.

- I'm real proud of you Lisa.

Oh!

- Well, how about a drink, doc?

- You know you were great?

I'd like to join
you for a drink.

Right now I think I need
a good drink,

more than I need good
company, let's go.

- Come on.

- Why are you out all
night chasing killers,

why aren't you staying
home doing something decent

like raising a family?

- Well cops and killers,
don't keep regular hours.

Besides now, my wife
ran off with a guy

that she could find at night.

- The department must
mean a lot to you.

- Putting away the guy that
mutilated your friend Carol

means a hell of a lot to me.

- You're okay McCabe.

- You mean for a cop?

- I mean for anybody.

- Hey...

You're Dr. Lindsay
Gale, ain't 'ya?

You look just like your
picture in people magazine.

I got this brother-in-law, see,

and he's staying with me
and the wife this one time,

and I come home, I
come home from work,

the wife's out you know,

and he's wearing the
little lady's girdle.

Which he don't look so bad
in, but I don't know what...

- hey pal.

L.A.P.D. Homicide.

Do you hang around with
your brother-in-law?

You been seen with him lately?

- No, no...
- You sure about that?

- Hold on, I think he moved
to Minneapolis years ago.

We never hear from him anymore.

Never see him.

- Okay, thanks, the
next round's on me.

- I'll hold 'ya to that.

- You know you weren't real
nice to me when we first met?

- I was only doing my job.

- So was I.

- No kidding.

- I think it maybe all
has to do with loneliness.

- Are you lonely?

- Yes, aren't you?

- Not now.

(My m)'-

- you're an easy man to
be intimate with McCabe.

- You tell all the guys that.

Now don't be so serious.

- I am serious.

- Come here.

- Oh, oh...

Oh so good!

30 good!

- I don't now which side
of the street they live on.

- The house with the green door.

- The green door?
- The green door.

- Thank you ma'am.

- Glad I could be of service.

- Just a minute!

Hello!

- Hello, I'm kirk Smith.

I'm here for the photo session.

- What session?

- I was sent over by loyd
Weston to do your portfolio.

- But I just had
my composite shot.

Oh, Jesus, loyd is
always doing this to me.

Isn't that typical

of agents, always
double-booking?

- Really.
- God what a waste of my time.

Do you have a telephone
that I can borrow

so that I may call loyd

and get this matter
straightened out?

- Sure, come on in.

- Thank you very much.

Here's my portfolio if
you'd like to look at it.

- Thanks.
- Thank you.

- Oh, excuse me!

The phone is here,
in the dining room.

- Oh, thank you.

- Yes is loyd Weston there?

He won't be back 'til later?

Hmm, okay, tell him I called.

I'll call back later.

Thank you.

- You know this is
really nice lighting.

You do very good work.

- Thank you very much.

You're very beautiful.

You got good skin,
good complexion.

- Thanks.

- I bet you're very photogenic.

- Yeah, so far.

Oh god, this is disgusting.

- I personally think
it's my best work.

- Well I think it's
absolutely vile,

and I wish you'd leave.

- Well, I'm sorry if a
photograph's rubbed you

the wrong way, but we all have
to make a living, don't we?

- Uh listen, I hate to be rude,

but I have to get
ready for an interview,

so if you don't mind
just leaving, I would...

- all right, but
tell loyd Weston,

that I kept my part
of the bargain.

- You know you are really weird.

You are.

- You're okay, I'm dull.

- Oh well i...

Jesus Christ!

Oh my god!

You freak!

- You beautiful chicks,

you're all alike...
- Jesus let me go!

- You are gorgeous,
and you love it to.

- Stop it, let me go!

- You just love it!

- Get out!

Help, help!

Oh please somebody...

- Ann what's going on out here?

Oh, oh!

Oh!

Oh!

Oh no!
- Why the fuck

did you do that?

You also think you're
all so groovy...

- Please, please don't do this!

You're nothing!

None of you are nothing!

You're all a bunch
of prima Donnas!

Shut up, shut up!

- No please
- shut up!

- Don't kill me...
- Shut up!

Shut up!

Oh...

- Joanie, Cathy,

are you all right?

Answer me!

Answer me,

what's going on in there?

Are you all right in there?

I'm gonna call the police!

- Hatcher the son-of-a-bitch
is blowing it this time.

The clues he's left behind.

We'll get the film
developed in his camera

and see what kind of goodies
he's dropped in our lap.

Yeah those photos weren't
taken by any amateur.

- Yeah we're getting
closer to this sicko.

- Let's check out that
porno lead, come on.

- Jeez a murderer.

You know this could
give the whole

fucking business a bad name?

Hey, I recognize this set,
the set with the candles.

That's kirk's work.

This is sick.

The guy usually he
has such good taste!

I want you to know
something officer,

I wouldn't print anything
like this, I mean really,

candles stuck in
all their privates?

That's just sick.

- Can it Sam.

I can still remember
your earlier works.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

A lady and nine sailors?

That was a real masterpiece.

Now who is this guy?

- Kirk.
- Kirk who?

- Kirk Smith!

- What do you know about him?

- He's good, he's a good
photographer, he's tasty,

he does nice work, nice
lighting, nice picture balance,

that's what I know
about the guy.

- Yeah I'll bet
he's a real artist.

Now where does this
asshole live Sam?

- I got his address
here someplace.

One of these damn drawers.

- Hey Sam, this is great!

- Huh?

- Nice horse.

- Yeah?

- Horse, hold it!

Hey!

I want you guys know, I don't
do shit like that no more man,

I mean really,
today a little tits,

a little ass, some spread,
Wesson oil, a swing shot.

- You son-of-a-bitch
if you won't fucking

find that address I'll tear
this fucking place apart!

Do you understand me!
- All right it's here,

hold it for a second all right,

shit here, kirk Smith, 115
homevale, L.A., all right?

- Come on let's get out of here!

- I don't care for the
lighting on this one Sam.

- You don't care
for the lighting.

- Nice hips though.

- Nice hips.

- All right, this is the place.

Police!

Police!

All right hatch I'm
going in, take the rear.

- Hey buddy boy, we
don't have a warrant.

Now let me put a
call into the d.A..

- Hatch, screw the
d.A. And the warrant.

We have probable cause.

Look at least there's
federal porno violations,

now come on!

- Hey if there's
anything in there

that's inadmissible
the d.A. Will hang us!

- You want me to take
the rear, is that it?

- Oh god...

- Now come on hatch
I'm not an attorney,

I just want in, all right?

- All right.

Give me a minute,
I'll go around back.

Now you're sure about this?

- You got 30 seconds then
I'm through the door.

- All right remember,
it's your party.

- I want this
place buttoned up real tight.

- Thanks for checking
everything out.

- It's okay.

- Okay-

do you really think
I'm in any danger?

- Oh not really or we'd
have been here sooner.

Well we've checked the
whole block and everything

around here and it's real quiet.

Everything looks fine.

- Okay thanks.

- Hey!

I could have told
you he wasn't in.

When you knocked, he
didn't answer the door.

- What did you do, run?

- Oh...

- Come on hatch, be serious.

I want to check this place out.

I feel it in my bones
that this is our man.

- Oooooooh, your bones.

Hey I expect that kind of
remark from my grandmother.

- There's not a god damn
porno picture in the place.

- Yeah yeah yeah, I know I know,

no photos, no lights.

It's probably not even
a photography studio.

- Hey, quick thinking.

Look around, what do you see?

Doll boxes, file
cases, tax forms.

McCabe, you eat a lot of
mayonnaise, don't you?

Be careful, it can
go to your brain.

- Hatch, it doesn't feel right.

- Oooooh, your bones.

Huh, you shouldn't
be a cop McCabe,

you should be a weatherman.

- Fuck off.

Police!

Freeze!
- Put your hands on

back of your neck, right now!

Get down on you knees!

All right buster,

I'm gonna read you your rights.

You have the right
to remain silent,

you have the right to
have an attorney present

at all times,
- aah!

I'm, please don't hurt me!

- His ID reads

John feldon.
- Shut up!

Shut up!
- Acme toy company.

- Okay buster, get up.

- What in the, what in the
world is this all about?

- What's in the suitcase?

- Toys.

What else?

- Well he don't look like
a porno photographer to me.

He doesn't even have a blow
me up suck me Suzy doll.

- What are you
guys talking about?

- We're looking
for a photographer.

" A photographer?"

L-I-if you're talking
about a photographer,

you're talking about
the guy next door!

He's a photographer,
he's a real weirdo!

This is a, this is an office!

Can't you guys tell
the difference?

- Shit hatch, we screwed up.

- We?

Let's get out of here.

- What about this mess?

- Sir, I'm really very sorry,

I just don't have the time
now to make it up to you.

- Well I want you and you,
to clean up this mess!

- I can't do that.

I tell you what I can do,

I can finish reading
you your rights,

and I can take you down town,

and that way you get a formal
apology from the governor.

- Goodnight gentlemen.

Next door, 9d!

- All right this
is the place hatch.

This is a photography studio.

- Oh my god, we've hit it!

The mother load!

Hey there's enough
porno pictures here

to sink a battleship!

Come here, take a look at this.

Huh?
- You're right.

What a sicko this guy is.

Hatch...

Hatch!
- Hmm!

- There it is, the
stocking with the coin.

- Ha ha, we got him!

We got him!

- Hello operator?

Hello operator, operator?

It's an emergenc...

Operator can you help me?

Hello operator?

It's an emergency
can you help me?

Who's there!

Listen I know there's
someone there!

Uh!

- It's not that easy, Lindsay.

Our time has come.

- That may be but not
much is gonna happen

unless you release my hand.

' Oh!

- Shut up now!

Don't move, don't move
or I'll smack 'ya!

I'll smack you!

Shut up!

Here's your wedding
present, let's uh,

these are man's
wedding presents.

You're being so cooperative.

- Why are you...
- I like that.

- Why are you trying to
make me afraid of you?

I am frightened of you.

What does that do to you,
how does that make you feel?

- Great happiness.

You are the great prize!

- McCabe!

We got a problem.

- I got it handled,
don't worry about it.

- No I'm not bullshitting
you now, I'm serious.

Oh my god, here's a
shitload of pictures

of Lindsay Gale and you!

- What?

Let me see!

Christ!

Jesus Christ he's
after her hatch!

Finish that call!

Get yourself a car,
check out the clinic

and the radio station,
I'm gonna go to her house!

- Shut up or I'll

tear your tit off!

Shut up!

- Ramona.

Ramona!

- No yo soy, ramone,

me llamo, kirk Smith.

- Kirk?

- Smith, say it.

Kirk Smith.

- Kirk Smith.

- That's right.

- Kirk?

You ever, have something
that you care about,

you ever had a puppy

a little puppy?

- Yeah.

- Did you love your puppy?

- Yeah...

Yes Dr. Gale, y-y-yes...

- He love you back?

I loved the puppy.

He was so sweet, he
was such a little baby,

I whupped him.

We went sleeping.

I loved him so much, but I
strangled the little fucker

'cause he shit all over
my grandma's oriental rug!

He shit!
- No!

- Don't say no to me!

He shit all over my grandma's

oriental rug!

- Kirk, you need some help.

I can help you.

I can give you some help

if you just trust me!

I can help you.

- I want to tell you
something, Dr. Gale.

From the time I
was a little boy,

they used to send me to a
doctor every Saturday morning.

Instead of able to play
with the kids on Saturday,

I went to the doctor!

I used to piss the bed up
'til I was 18-years old,

they sent me to a
doctor for that!

I had trouble with my ass,

they sent me to a
doctor for that!

I had trouble with
my crazy-otic head,

they sent me to a
doctor for that!

And you're telling
me you can help me?

None of these cunts have
been able to help me!

- You went to see
the wrong doctors!

You went to see

the wrong doctors!

Kirk...
- You're right.

No no you're right doctor.

You're right, I went to
see the wrong doctors!

Oh my god you're right!
- That's right!

I'm, I'm your friend!

- You're right again Dr. Gale.

Oh you're right.

I made one mistake after
the other, you ask,

you ask 'em, you ask my stepdad,
I never measured up to him,

my mother, always,
smacked me around.

You're right.

I never had enough faith
in myself Dr. Gale.

Oh, but that's all gonna
change now 'cause I just...

Dr. Gale forgive me!

I've made a mistake,
I've been a naughty boy!

I've been naughty.

I'm gonna untie you...

Oh I'm so, I'm
sorry, forgive me!

- With someone it's easy...

- Yes,

like most nagging women!

I let her inside me!

Shut up!

Shut up!
- You're wrong!

- You shut your fucking mouth!

You're like most nagging women!

I like you silent!

I like you silent Dr. Gale!

Shut your fucking
mouth Dr. Gale!

Shut up, shut up, shut up
shut up, shut up, shut up!

Jesus Christ

son of a...

~ oh!

Come on you...

You son-of-a-bitch!

Hmm, Jesus...

Oh...

I know honey I know I know
sweetheart, hang on...

- You saved...

~ oh!

Oh I got that son-of-a-bitch!

Oh, oh...

Adios, creep.