Don't Hang Up (1974) - full transcript

(train horn blares)

- Hot out there.

- What you doin' over here?

- Well I had to get out of
there for a few minutes.

- Go on back over there.

- Well I don't like it, she
oughta be in a hospital.

- That's for me and
Crawther to worry about.

- Well it's for
me to worry about.

I'm the one that has
to take care of her.

I'm damn sick of it.

- I'm damn sick of
your complaining.



Crawther's the doctor,
he'll handle it.

- Crawther's a foll,
he'll do anything you say.

- That's for Crawther
to worry about.

- Look, I think I
know what you're

doing and I don't like it.

- You don't know nothing,
now you listen to me--

- No you listen to me.

I stood by you all these years.

Take care of you
when you're sick,

sleep with you at
your convenience.

Well I've seen you do a lot
of things and I kept my mouth

shut but I've never seen
you do nothin' like this.

What is that medicine
I'm givin' her anyway?

- Annie, one thing
you never used to do



was stick your nose in
my business and you had

better not start doin'
it now in your old age.

- Well I want you to
call her granddaughter.

- Dammit, keep her out of this!

I don't want that girl here
meddling in my business.

Go on back over
there and take care

of Miss Harriet
like I'm tellin' ya.

- You're not gonna call her?

Well then I am. (screams)

- Annie, now you
listen good 'cause

I'm only gonna
say this one time.

Don't call that
girl. (slap, scream)

You understand?

Now you get your butt back on

over there and do
what I'm tellin' ya.

(relaxed guitar tones)

(train horn)

All aboard.

(dial tone, beep)

- [Voiceover] Hi Mandy,
this is Dave Dietrich.

Your prints are ready when you
wanna come by and get them.

- [Annie] Miss Post, I
can't tell you who I am

but this is important, you
better come to Allerton.

Your grandmother Post is
real sick, she may be dying.

Now don't tell anybody I
called, just come okay?

I hope you get this message.

Come to Allerton, your
grandmother Post is real sick.

She may be dying, now don't
tell anybody I called.

Just come okay, I hope
you get this message.

(anxious piano tones)

(doorbell ringing)

- [Nick] Hello Miss Post.

- Oh Lord, I'm in a hurry Nick.

- Is that any way to
treat your old man?

- [Amanda] You're not my
old man Doctor Cabrisi,

not after the other night.

- Look Mandy, let's
just talk it out.

- I don't have time Nick, I
have to leave again right now.

- Where to this time?

- Where I'm going is
none of your business.

- Dammit, it is my business.

- Look we are not together
anymore, do you understand?

- Is that all?

- Nick.

I'm going to Allerton, my
grandmother's very ill.

She may be dying, it's been 13
years since I've been there.

13 years, I left
when my mother died.

My grandma wrote
from time to time

and we talked on the
phone occasionally.

I always told myself she
didn't really need me anymore.

Now I guess she does.

I could never bring myself
to go back to that town

and that house, that
house of all seasons.

(anxious guitar, flute music)

(up tempo guitar, flute music)

(eerie synthesized
tones, flute music)

(relaxed flute
music, guitar tones)

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

(relaxed flute music)

- Mom, who called?

- Wrong number honey,
don't worry about it.

Just go to sleep.

Goodnight.
- [Amanda] Goodnight.

(anxious bass, piano tones)

(anxious drumbeat, clacking)

(elevated guitar, violin tones)

(fast drumbeat, rising tone)

(heavy bass tone)

(low drumbeat,
ominous guitar tones)

(heavy bass tone)

(screams)

Mom, mom?

(deep piano tones)

(screams)

(ominous bass tones)

(tepid guitar, flute music)

(deliberate bass
tones, steady drumbeat)

- Judge.

(eerie synthesized guitar tones)

- Hello?

Is anybody here?

(door slams)

Hello?

Grandma?

Grandma, it's me
grandma, Amanda.

I'm here grandma.

- Go away, stay away.

- [Amanda] I can't
here you grandma.

- Away.

- What are you
doing, who are you?

- I'm Mrs. Post's granddaughter,
I've come to be with her.

- Oh yes, Amanda.

Rita Post's little
girl come back.

- Surprised?

- Well we haven't seen
you in such a long time.

- Oh well, my home's
in Dallas now.

- Uh-huh, well I'm
Doctor Crawther.

- Oh yes I remember you.

- Won't you come
into the dining room?

I've given her a sedative and
she shouldn't be disturbed.

- So who's been
taking care of her?

- We've had very competent help.

- What's wrong with her?

- Many things, she's
very old you know.

Your grandmother is a
very independent lady.

She wanted no one around
to do things for her

and consequently she was
quite ill for many days

before I was even aware
of her serious condition.

- Shouldn't she
be in a hospital?

- [Crawther] No,
not necessarily.

- This isn't the best
place for a sick person.

You have to admit that.

- No I don't Miss Post,
you're being presumptuous.

Your grandmother was very
attached to this old place.

- What's that? (footsteps)

Who else is in this house?

- But that couldn't be
Amanda, it couldn't be Amanda.

- Yeah but if it is,
that woman called her.

Welcome come Miss Post.

- Well I remember
you, you're Mister--

- Judge, we call him that,
I'll look in on Mrs. Harriet.

- Well well, you've
grown up Miss Post.

- I can see that in
your eyes, Judge.

(chuckles)

- I am delighted to see
you again Miss Post.

- Mister Kearn, it's
been a long time.

- I'd like to speak to
you privately concerning

some affairs that are very
important to this town.

- Claude.

- This is none of
your business Judge.

- He wants you to
give him this house.

- That's not the truth, it's
not for me, it's for posterity.

You make it sound so mercenary.

- It is mercenary, he's
been hangin' around this

house like a vulture ever
since Mrs. Harriet took ill,

trying to add to his collection.

- That is a lie!

- I came here to
see my grandmother

and I walked into, well
it's just ridiculous.

Doctor Crawther, I want my
grandmother in a hospital.

- That is not your decision
to make, Miss Post.

- [Amanda] Nor is
it yours Judge.

- It was your grandmother's
decision and she decided--

- She can't even talk!

She's in no condition to
make that decision anymore.

- You seem to be very
suddenly concerned, Miss Post.

It has been after
all some 13 years.

- You seem to be very
strangely concerned, Judge.

I want my grandmother admitted.

- I'll do no such thing.

- All right, I'll
find someone who will.

- Very well, if you should
need me I'll be in my office.

You'll find the list
of Mrs. Harriet's

medications on the table.

- [Amanda] Now was
there anything else?

- You've made a
mistake Miss Post.

Doctor Crawther is very
well thought of hereabouts.

It will be difficult to
find anyone to admit her.

- That's the least
of my problems.

- And by the way, I'm fairly
well thought of hereabouts too.

- Yes I'm sure you are.

- You stayin' here?
- [Amanda] Why not?

- Oh, it's just that a pretty
little old thing like you

all alone in this
big, rambly old house?

You never can tell but
then you're a big girl now.

You take care now, you hear?

- Well?

- I hope you'll come and
see me at the museum soon.

It's been a long
time, we've grown.

We are very proud of it.

- I'll come soon Mister Kearn.

- I hope you'll excuse.

Come and see me soon.

- Claude Kearn the curator.

Grandma, grandma?

(banging, rustling)

(mysterious guitar tones)

(strange rustling)

You're still a spooky old
house but you can't scare me!

But you can't scare me, yoo
whoo, yoo whoo. (echoes)

Yoo whoo. (echo stops)

Yoo whoo.

(anxious guitar tones)

Is anyone up here?

(tepid flute music,
guitar tones)

(relaxed cello music)

- [Voiceover] Good morning,
Doctor Cabrisi's office.

- Doctor Cabrisi please.

- Doctor Cabrisi.

- Nick, Mandy.
- [Nick] Hello Miss Post.

- Oh come Nick, listen
I need your help.

Grandma's really sick, I think
she oughta be in a hospital.

- Well where is
she if she isn't?

- Well she's here at the house,
her doctor won't admit her.

He says she's better off here.

- Well he should know.

- Nick, she needs
to be in a hospital.

- Good old Mandy, did you tell
him that? (doorknob wobbles)

Mandy, Mandy is
something the matter?

- No, will you come?

- I'll be there tonight.
- [Mandy] Okay, bye.

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- [Voiceover] Hello Miss Post.

- Hello, is that you Nick?

I can't hear you, are you--

- [Voiceover]
Welcome to Allerton.

- Why thank you.

- [Voiceover] We've missed
you, I've missed you.

- What?

- [Unknown] Would you come
closer to the phone Miss Post

so I can hear you please?

- Who is this?

- [Unknown] I can almost feel

your breath on my face.

- Oh come on buster.

I don't believe it,
not in Allerton.

(relaxed flute music)

Oh mom.

(screams)

(high pitched tones)

(ominous flute
music, guitar tones)

(water running)

(anxious guitar tones)

(phone ringing)

All right!

Hello?

- I thought you'd
never answer Miss Post.

- Well I did.

- [Unknown] I hope
I didn't interrupt.

- You didn't, now who is this?

- An old friend.

We could be very good
friends Miss Post,

why we could.

- Bye now.

(phone ringing)

- Don't hang up on
me again Miss Post.

It makes me unhappy, I've been
waiting too long for this.

- Hey guess what?

- Huh, what?

- You're very sick.

- I am not sick,
don't you ridicule me.

I won't allow it, others
have ridiculed me.

I did not like them
either, Miss Post.

You are breathing
heavier Miss Post.

Does that signify anything?

- I'm freezing,
what do you want?

- I'd love to warm you.

- Shove it, mister.

(anxious guitar music)

Boy oh boy, did
you almost get it.

Why didn't you knock
or something, you
scared me to death.

- I did, no one answered.
- [Amanda] Oh.

- What's that for?

- Oh I just got frightened,
some silly phone call.

- [Nick] Who was it?

- Some jerk getting his jollies.

- A breather?

- Just your standard
class-B obscene caller.

How is she?

- I haven't had
time to examine her.

You look pretty cute.

- You just take care
of your patient, huh?

How's she doing?

- Not so good.

Mandy, how long has
she been asleep?

- About, my God,
since I've been here.

Noon, 12:30.

- Well how many of
these did you give her?

- One at four like it says to.

- [Nick] I don't understand,
who is this Crawther guy?

- Why?

- I wanna talk to him,
there's something wrong here.

She must be getting
something else.

- My God.

- Hey, hey, I want her admitted
first thing in the morning.

She'll be all right
here for the night.

Okay Miss Post, how about me?

Do I stay here or at a motel?

- Here.

- Oh.

- Sorry sir, it
happens to be a single.

- Well it beats $12.50 I guess.

(anxious synthesized tones)

(rising, warbling tones)

- Nick?

All right Nick, now
what do you think--

- Shh.

- All right, now what
were you doing in my room?

- [Nick] I haven't
been in your room.

- I'm not in the mood for
funnies Nick, you came in.

I know you did, I saw
you go down the stairs.

- Baby if I'd been in your
room, I'd still be in there.

You must've been dreaming.

- Truth?
- [Nick] Truth.

Get some sleep, go on.

(mumbling)

She's mumbling something
about a museum.

That mean anything to do?

- No I don't think so.

- Get on the phone and
get that ambulance here.

- Museum.

- May I ask who are you, sir?

I'm Doctor Crawther,
in charge of this case.

- You were Doctor.

- I see.

- Don't you walk out on me
doctor, I have some questions.

- You're an
impertinent young man.

- Tell me doctor, why
haven't you had her admitted?

- Because she insisted.
- [Nick] She can't even talk!

- Doctor, I resent
your implications.

If you will take time to
find out you will learn that

Mrs. Post did not wish to
be admitted to a hospital.

She preferred to
remain in her own home.

She is an old, old lady
much nearer death than

you know and an old
lady who prefers

to die in the house
she was born in.

Now if you will excuse me.

(relaxed flute music)

(light piano notes)

- Mister Kearn?

Grandma.

(relaxed synthesized
guitar tones)

- You kept your
promise Miss Post.

- Yes, I'm glad I did.

- For you.

- A bribe, Mister Kearn?

- No, a tribute.

- Look Mister Kearn,
it's been over

13 years since I played here.

- Ah, but we've grown.

- Yes I can see that.

- Aren't you curious?

May I show you around,
may I show you all

the things that are so
very precious to me?

- My grandmother's things
are very precious to me also.

(relaxed guitar music)

- It's wonderful
to have you here.

I have a surprise for you.

I remember how you
used to love surprises.

This is very special, unique.

You won't tell
anyone about this?

- If you don't want me to.

- Promise, promise you won't.

- Okay I promise, but I
really have to go after this.

Is that supposed
to be my mother?

Why did you do this?

- You like it?
- [Amanda] No I don't.

It's sick!

It's a bad joke, Mister Kearn.

Now I want my grandmother's
things out of here,

upstairs and downstairs.

I want our things put
back where they belong.

- I can't do that.

- You better and
you better fast.

If you don't, we'll see what
the Judge can do about it.

- But I did it for you,
for when you came back

for you to remember her by.

- The main thing I remember is

a scared little girl
with a dead mother.

I don't need or want to
remember anything else!

(up tempo synthesized
tones, drumbeat)

(knocking)

- What do you want?

- I want to talk to you.

- Well talk.
- [Claude] Privately.

- Hell, you were bound to
get in here sooner or later.

Come on in.

- Why you've been
keepin' secrets Judge.

- Take a good look around
Claude but don't get any ideas.

This is mine.

- It is beautiful.

- What do you want, Claude?

- I want to make
a deal with you.

I know what you and
Crawther did to Miss Harriet

and I won't say
anything about it

if you'll just make the girl
leave the things in the museum.

She's not to be trusted.

She's just like--

- Just like her mother, Claude?

Just like Rita, what
was Rita like Claude?

Now that Amanda is back
to remind us all maybe we

should talk about what
happened to Rita, huh Claude?

Maybe you know something
the rest of us don't know.

- No.

- Maybe Crawther should
give you something, Claude.

- I'm no sick old lady, Judge.

Crawther doesn't scare me.

- Go on back to the
museum and play with your

mannequins Claude, I don't
have time for your games.

- The girl is going to take

the things out of the museum.

Stop her from doing it.

Have I made you angry?

I didn't mean to make
you angry, I love her.

I loved her when she
was a little girl.

I took good care of her.

I taught her a lot.

Don't let her go away.

- Hello Miss Post.

- [Amanda] Didn't you
ever hear of knocking?

- You're late,
it's three-O-seven.

- I was at the hospital.

Look, I know this is a
small town but do you

always barge right in
to someone else's house?

- This isn't your
house yet Miss Post.

I'm Mrs. Harriet's
attorney, by her parole

I may enter this house
any time I choose.

- Boy, you sure have the gall.

- What I have young lady are
certain responsibilities.

- To whom, according
to Mister Kearn--

- Claude's a thief, I hope
you see that Miss Post.

I don't have time to waste.

I have told you that
I want this house.

I would be willing to
buy your interest in it,

your potential
interest Miss Post.

I believe this to be
more than a fair price.

- I'll bet you do get
everything you want.

Well I'll tell you
what, you don't get it.

Kearn doesn't get
it, nobody gets it.

Not while I'm around,
I'll burn it first!

You're a dirty old man.

You just give me the keys,
get out and stay out.

- You're in my way Miss Post.

I'll be back tonight
with the papers.

I think you'll change your mind.

- Not on your life, Judge.

- Miss Post, perhaps you
think me a rustic fool.

I assure you I'm not.

I can quote great literature.

Here's one of my favorites
from Lewis Carroll.

The king's argument
was that anything that

had a head could be beheaded.

I'm partial to comedy.

- Judge?

Judge I'm here, where are you?

- [Unknown] Ed, up here Ed.

- What did you want to

speak to me about at this hour?

- [Unknown] Come up here.

It's very important.

- Judge, where are you?

- [Unknown] Up here Ed.

(anxious guitar tones,
steady drumbeat)

- Judge?

Judge?

Judge.?

Where the hell are you?

(rising fast drumbeat)

(repeated bass tones)

(phone ringing)

- Hello?

- [Claude] Hello Miss Post.

- Well hi George,
how have you been?

Long time no hear.

- [Claude] I had to
talk to you again.

I've been thinking about you.

I could see you undressing.

I had visions of you

with me.

- George, shut up and listen.

What is this huh,
got a thing going?

You charging admission?

Why don't you come on over
and tell me your funnies

face-to face huh,
anything wrong George?

You're damn right there
is, you know what it is?

You're a miserable
impotent freak.

I'm not interested so buzz off.

- You might be interested

in your grandmother's
life, Miss Post.

- What's that?

- You hold her
life in your hands

and you own, Miss Post.

You still there?

- Why, what do you want?

- Everything that enters
the house is mine.

- This house has been in
my family for many years.

It's now my grandmother's,
it would've been my mother's.

- [Claude] Your mother
was like all the rest.

- What do you know
about my mother?

- [Claude] Shut up, I don't
want to talk about her.

- Well I do, what do you
know about my mother?

- [Claude] Nothing.

- Do you know how she died?

- She stole something from me.

She was evil.

She deserved to die.

(gasping, heavy breathing)

(scream)

- Hello Miss Post,
you don't know--

- What did you say?

- Well I said hello Miss Post.

Look I'm up, what's the matter?

- [Amanda] I've got
to get out of here.

- There's no place
to go in Allerton.

How's your grandma?
- [Amanda] What?

- I said how's your grandma?

- Why?

- I'm just interested.

Wasn't for me, you wouldn't
have got those phone calls.

- What?

- My goodness, you
don't look well at all.

(phone ringing)

You better answer that, it
might be about your grandma.

- I will, just don't
hurt her please.

- [Claude] Hello Miss Post.

- I'm here.

- [Claude] Now
you're here you mean.

- I--

- [Claude] Went out, I trust
you didn't say anything.

- No.

How did you--

- I'm in your house.

See how easily I'm sneaking up?

- You need help.

- [Claude] And
you could help me.

- Well I can try.

- Why that's exactly what
I had in mind, Miss Post.

- Well good, we could--

- [Claude] You could help
me, I have been waiting

since you were 19 to
hear you say that.

Say you'll help me.

Say it, go ahead say it.

- I'll help you any way I can.

- Oh that's just fine.

Miss Post will help me.

Make the sounds for me.

you make when you
are making love.

The deep sounds all women make.

- No, no I can't.

- Now make the sound
your mother made.

- What are you
trying to do to me?

- I can't hear them.

- No please, I can't.

- [Claude] Miss
Post, your mother

was not cooperative either.

I warned her.

I don't want to
hurt you that way.

- You wouldn't.

- [Claude] But I would.

The sounds, now.

- Look I would
like to help you--

- The sounds now.

I'm tired of this Miss
Post, I want to hear them.

- Please, who are you?

- [Claude] Your mother knew.

Miss Post--

- Okay, all right I'll do it.

- Touch your body.

Let me feel your
hair on the phone.

Are you doing that Miss Post?

- [Amanda] Yes.

- [Claude] I don't
think you are.

(tense tones)

(unsteady breathing)

(terrified moaning)

(fast drumbeat)

- Oh.

Oh. (weeping)

God.

Very good.

I think I'll call you Amanda

now that we are so very
much better acquainted.

I think we should sleep now.

Do you Amanda?

Oh yes.

I would appreciate it if
you stayed in the house.

Don't go out Amanda,
no phone calls either.

Do you understand?
- [Amanda] Yes.

- Goodnight Amanda.

I will be talking
with you again.

(tense guitar tones)

(anxious guitar, flute music)

(gasping)

- [Voiceover] County Hospital.

- Doctor Cabrisi please,
it's a emergency.

- Doctor Cabrisi.

- Nick he's been calling
again, he threatened--

Mandy I don't have time now,
your grandmother's worse.

- But I'm scared Nick, he
made me, he told me to--

- Honey, just lock the
doors and go on to bed.

He isn't going to go after
you in person, they never do.

- But he made all sorts of--

- Mandy listen, go to bed.

He won't call again
tonight and we'll

sort this thing out
in the morning, okay?

Sleep tight baby, I'll get
there as soon as I can.

I've gotta run now, bye.
- [Amanda] But Nick.

Nick!

(anxious piano tones)

- Miss Post?

(dong)

(whispering, anxious tones)

You're in my way.

I want this house.

I want this house.

I want this house.

- [Claude] We could be very
good friends Miss Post.

- [Judge] The sins
of the mother.

I want this house.

(echoing)

- [Claude] We could be very
good friends Miss Post.

- [Judge] Rita
Post's little girl.

- [Claude] But I did it for you.

- [Judge] You're in my way.

The sins of the mother.

I want this house.

- [Claude] But I did it for you.

(echoing, voices repeating)

- [Judge] Anything that had
a head could be beheaded.

- Nick?

Nick.

Oh thank God. (laughs)

(anxious guitar tones)

(screams)

Nick Nick, Nick
wake up, wake up.

(screams)

Operator, operator!

- This is the operator.

May I help you?

Did you like my picture
of Doctor Crawther?

The knife, it's
not there Amanda.

Don't move away
Amanda, stay there.

You look so lovely in red.

Oh pretty, so pretty.

- You're sick.

You're sick!

- I'm not sick.

Don't say that ever again.

- You're sick!

- Come back here
Amanda, come back now.

- You're sick! (glass shatters)

* Give me a little
kiss will ya hun

* Give me a little
kiss will ya hun

* Give me a little
kiss will you hun *

(screams)

- Young lady you almost killed
me, do you realize that?

- It's you, I should've
known it was you.

You're crazy, you're sick!

(shouting)

(phone ringing)

It's not you.
- [Judge] What's not me?

- It's him, he's crazy.

He's been threatening, he's
in the house, I know he is.

- Who's here?

- I don't know, please help me.

I don't know who he is.

- Maybe I do, we'll see.

Hello?

- Why Amanda, your
voice has changed.

- Who am I talkin' to?

- With whom am I
speaking please?

- Why don't you come on in

the dining room and
we'll settle this thing.

- Well I don't think I
want to do that Judge.

Why don't you come
up here all the way.

- You better stay down here.

- [Amanda] No please, I
don't want to be alone.

- It'll be safe down here,
I'll take care of him.

(anxious guitar tones)

All right.

I'm coming.

Where are you?

- Judge, Judge Stemple?

Judge?

(ominous violin music)

(screams)

- [Ensemble of Voices]
Amanda, Amanda, Amanda!

(screams)

- Amanda, Mandy.

- [Amanda] Get away
from me, go away!

- [Nick] Mandy.

- Get away from me!

Get away from me!

- Mandy!

Mandy, what have you done?

For God's sake,
what's happening?

What's happened?

(screams)

(relaxed guitar, piano tones)

(anxious flute music)

(phone ringing)

(low, ominous synthesized tones)

- [Claude] And now shall
we continue Miss Post?

(tepid guitar music)

(maniacal laughter)

(tepid guitar music)