When a Stranger Calls (1979) - full transcript

I made the reservations for 8:15.
We're going to be late.

Dr Minakis?

Mandrakis. It's OK.
Everyone gets it wrong the first time.

You're Jill? Come on in.

Hi, Jill. I'm Mrs Mandrakis.

Honey, could you get this for me,
please? Thank you.

Oh, I wrote the number of the restaurant
on the notepad by the phone.

Now, if we're not home in two hours,

that means we've decided
to go on to a movie

and won't be back till after midnight.
Is that OK?

Sure.



I've told my service to pick up any calls
coming in on my office phone so...

Oh, the children are asleep upstairs.

First door on your left at the top
of the landing.

Now, they're both just getting over
really bad colds

and I had a terrible time getting them
to sleep so please try not to wake them.

- OK.
- Do you have any questions?

- No.
- Great. We're late. Let's go, honey.

Make yourself at home.
The refrigerator's loaded.

OK. Bye.

We even have some low-fat yogurt.

- Honey, come on!
- Bye.

Are you at Dr Mandrakis's?

Yeah, I've been here for
about an hour already.

Isn't it a neat house?



I guess. I haven't looked around much.

Did you see his kids?

They were asleep when I got here.

They're really cute.

So what's goin' on?

Do you think you're gonna be
talking to him sometime tonight?

Who?

Who? Bobby!

Probably. You know...

Bobby asked me to go out with him
this weekend.

And I was really, really tempted,
cos I like Bobby a lot.

As much as you do.

But I told him I couldn't

because I didn't think it was right
because you were my friend.

You are my friend.

Yeah, I guess so.

Listen, do me a favour.

Just give Bobby the number here. OK?

Don't tell him I told you to.

OK.

I gotta go now.

Bye, Nance.

Thank you.

Yeah. Bye.

Bye.

Hello?

Bobby?

Have you checked the children?

What?

Oh, wrong number.

Hello?

Have you checked the children?

Dr Mandrakis?

Oh, yeah, sure. Dr Mandrakis.

Hello?

Have you checked the children?

Robert, I don't think this is very funny.

Bobby.

Who is this?

Golden Bull.

Hello, is Dr Mandrakis there?
This is his babysitter.

Hold on a minute.

- Hello?
- Hello, yes?

Dr Mandrakis left the restaurant
about 40 minutes ago.

40 minutes ago?

That's right.

OK.

Operator.

Hello. Could you get me the police?

Is this an emergency?

Yes.

Well, no. Not really.

The number is 555-9431.
Would you like me to connect you?

Yes.

Seventh Precinct, Sergeant Sacker.

Hello. Er...

I've been getting phone calls
about every 15 minutes.

It's a man.
I think he's trying to scare me.

An anonymous caller, ma'am?

That's right.

Has he threatened you?

No.

Has he been using obscene language?

No.

Sometimes he doesn't say anything.
He just... keeps calling.

Well, there's really nothing
we can do about it down here.

Is the phone listed in your name?

No, I'm just a babysitter.

It's probably just some weirdo.

The city's full of them.

Believe it or not, we get reports
like this every night.

It's nothing to worry about.

Oh.

Have you tried whistling?

What?

Well, if you can find a good loud
whistle somewhere in the house,

blow it into the phone, hard,
next time he calls.

Probably break his eardrum.
He won't bother you after that.

No, I...

You're probably right.
It's nothing to worry about.

Hello?

Why haven't you checked the children?

Seventh Precinct, Sergeant Sacker.

I called you before about the man
who keeps calling me.

Oh, yeah.

He called me again.

Did you try whistling?

No. He's out there.

Out where?

In the neighbourhood.
He's watching me through the windows.

Did you see him?

No, but I know he's there.

Is the house locked up?

Yes.

Well, then you're safe. If he wanted to
break in, he wouldn't be calling you.

Please, can't you help me?
I'm all alone here.

OK. Now, take it easy.

I'll tell you what.

- If this guy calls you again...
- He will call again, I know he will.

All right. Now, calm down.

Look, I can alert the phone company

so if he calls again we can try
to trace the call.

What's your number?

Er... 555-2368.

And the address?

Er...

Er... 3317 Oakridge.

Oh, yeah, I know where that is.

OK, now. If the guy calls again,

you try to keep him on the line for at
least a minute so we can trace the call.

I can't do that. He doesn't stay on
for more than a couple of seconds.

Well, that's the only way we can help you.

By the way, what's your name?

Jill Johnson.

Jill, the important thing is for you
to relax.

You're safe where you are.

We've got patrolmen cruising that area
all night long.

Just stay calm.

Will you do that for me?

Yes.

OK, in the meantime,
we'll be watching your line.

All right, Jill?

Yes.

You call again if there's any problem.

OK.

Good night.

Night.

Hello.

It's me.

I know.

Who are you?

I'm not gonna be here much longer.

Dr Mandrakis and his wife are
coming home.

I know.

Can you see me?

Yes.

Sorry I turned the lights down.

I'll turn them back up if you like.

No. Don't.

Don't?

You really scared me.

If that's what you wanted.

Is that what you wanted?

No.

What do you want?

Your blood.

All over me.

You don't know who I am.

Or where I live.

And Dr Mandrakis will take me home,
or maybe even the police.

You've called the police?

I wanna talk to you.

Leave me alone!

Jill, this is Sergeant Sacker.
Listen to me.

We've traced the call.
It's coming from inside the house.

A squad car's on the way right now.
Just get outta that house.

Are the parents here yet?

Yeah, they arrived about ten minutes ago.

Christ!

What a homecoming.

What happened, Charlie?

We were less than a block away
when the call came through.

When we got here, the guy was
still upstairs in the kids' bedroom.

He was covered with blood.

Blood?

Not his own.

The children have been dead
for several hours.

Oh, Jesus!

He'd been using some old phone
the parents never had disconnected.

Who is he?

Well, we found this merchant seaman's card
on him. He's English.

Entered this country less than a week ago.

How about the babysitter?

She'll be all right.

Dr and Mrs Mandrakis,
I'm Lieutenant Clifford. I'm very sorry...

Sit down.

Thank you.

So...

you're in business for yourself now.

Yes, sir.

For the past three and a half years.

That's good.

And you'd heard about
Curt Duncan's escape?

Oh, yes.

Do you think the police will find him?

Well, I know they haven't assigned anyone
to it specifically.

It's an old case.

An old case.

Can you find him?

Yes.

Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not this week,

but I'll find him.

He could be anywhere by now.

I don't think so.

Because he's a foreigner,
he'll come back to the city.

After six years in confinement, that's
the only place that's familiar to him.

That's important.

A man murders two children in cold blood.

A jury declares him insane.

How could such a person not be?

He's sent to a state mental institution,
where the security is less than perfect.

And he escapes.

It isn't fair.

A thing like that...

...should never be allowed
to happen again.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Go ahead, then.

My accountant will contact you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

State Hospital.

Curt Duncan isn't going to run
right out and kill more children.

I'm not worried about that.

We had him in here for six years
under continuous therapy,

some of it rather forceful.

And drugs, tranquillisers,
depressants, lithium.

Eventually anyone will respond
to the treatment here.

You gave him electric shock?

Yes, some.

It says here 38.

38 times?

It's a fairly standard procedure.

Well...

...what will happen to him now
without the drugs he was on?

Well, there'll be some deterioration.
That's inevitable.

We can't say how much.

During the time that you had him here,
did you...

discover any particular habits of his?

Peculiarities, quirks?

Anything that might help me find him?

Yes, of course.

It's all in the folder, Mr Clifford.

Any mail from people back in England?

Family?

That, too, is in the folder.

Let's get something straight here, Doctor.

I've been 33 years in the business

of tracking people down
and putting them away.

Spent almost a year on Curt Duncan alone

with the trial and the testimonies
and the background investigations.

Now, I didn't come here today
to look in your goddamn folders.

In fact, I wouldn't be here at all
if you'd done your job right.

This is a hospital, Mr Clifford,
not a penitentiary.

Everything appertaining
to one of our patients

is meticulously recorded
in that patient's folder.

Whether you can make sense of it or not.

Do you want to know how much we really
understand of the human mind?

Listen. This is Curt Duncan.

Shortly after he was admitted here
six years ago.

...is to give you medication
that will calm you down.

We're not putting anything
in your food, either.

No! I don't eat the food!

It doesn't taste right!

That's Duncan.

Curt, why are you fidgeting?

Can't you get comfortable?

No!

I'm not comfortable!

Don't you look at me.

Don't you talk to me.

Don't you touch... me.

Stay away.

Stay away.

- Curt, I'm only trying to help you.
- Stay away.

Stop it, please!

Grab him! Help!

Hello.

What you been up to?

My own business.

Look. Thanks for the light.

OK?

Next round's on me.

Look, I've got my own money.

So if you don't mind.

After what I've been through,
I don't mind anything.

See, that's the whole point.

My mind.

Your mind.

Where do they fit in?

Do you see what I mean?

OK, pal.

Do you live around here?

Get off of me!

Oh, listen. I didn't mean anything.

- You see, I don't live around...
- Hey!

I think the lady wants to be left alone.

I think an apology is in order.

Is that the best you can do?

I think you better move along, pal.

- Bill, it's OK, really.
- No! I want him out of here, man!

Hey! Are you deaf?

Go on! Beat it!

Hey! I'm not gonna say it again, mister.

Hey, Bill! Bill!

This is Torchy's.
I want to report a fight.

Who you callin'?

Hey!

I don't know why I keep coming back
to this dump.

Charlie Garber...

Charlie?

Hey, Cliff. Let me fix you a drink, man.

Let me talk to you.

- You want some of this?
- No. Thank you.

What's goin' on?

I wanna talk to you in private.

Sorry.

- You know these people here.
- Yes, I do.

- What's going on here?
- I wanna talk to you in private.

Huh?

Come on.
I can't take any more surprises tonight.

You did this, you dirty dog.

- Yeah, you did.
- Let's go upstairs for a minute.

All right.

Now, what's going on? Come on. Tell Papa.

- You getting married?
- No.

I got a job this week, tracking someone.

Fantastic, Cliff! Fantastic!

I knew you could do it.
Yeah. Keep up the good work.

It's Curt Duncan.

What...?

You didn't know he escaped?

- Sh!
- I need your cooperation on this one.

Yeah, sure. Anything you want.

Anything.

Oh, it's you.

What do you want?

I came to apologise.

Listen, I'm the one who should be sorry.

I didn't mean for that to happen.

I'm new in town.

I don't know anybody.

Where are you from?

Excuse me.

Hello?

No, I just got in.

I don't know if I can.

Listen, I can't talk right now.
Can I call you back?

All right.

Bye.

I...

I'm...

I'm from New York, actually.

Look, you can't come in here.

Oh...

Well, I...

I thought perhaps we might get
some coffee.

No, I don't think so.

Somewhere nearby?

Not tonight.

You'd better go.

I got no place to go.

Well, you can't stay here.

Just a coffee?

Please?

Well... Maybe tomorrow.

OK, tomorrow.

When?

I said maybe. I don't know.

Look, I'm sorry about what happened
this afternoon. I really am.

All right?

That was my boyfriend on the phone.
He's coming over.

So please leave.

Now.

- I like you.
- Look!

Do you want me to call the cops?

No, it's OK.

It... It's OK.

I'll see you sometime.

Later.

I still want to buy you that drink.

How long will you be here?

Depends on how lucky I get.

I wanna look through the old files on him.

And check every recent report of assault,
vagrancy, things like that.

Just wanna ask you a question, Mr Trumble.

All right. What do you wanna know?

What was stolen?

Wake up! God bless it!
Get outta here. Out!

All right! Damn it. All right!

All right!

What say you, partner?

Mm.

Hey, looky here.

I'm dry as a bone, man.
You got any money?

Well, keep the picture. If you think
you see him, I'd appreciate a call.

About four blocks.

Yeah? Down by the park?

- A foreigner. Has a British accent.
- No, I haven't.

He's about my height. Light complexion.

I was just with that guy. Looked bad.

Where?

Hell, I can't remember.

Probably see him again, though.

I'll tell you what.

You leave that money with me
and I'll see that he gets it as...

a favour to you.

I gotta talk to him.

What's the matter?
Don't you trust me? Mm?

We can work together.

Yeah. Sure.

You keep the bottle, huh?

I'll be back.

Bar downtown?

Yeah, I got the name and
address if you want it.

Appreciate it.

Oh, shit!

Who is it?

My name is John Clifford.
I'm a private investigator.

You're a what?

A private detective.

What do you want with me?

I thought maybe we could talk,
ask a few questions.

I don't know nothing about anything
or anybody.

Shit.

Listen, lady.

I can be back in 30 minutes with a search
warrant and a handful of cops.

I could probably have you arrested,
whether or not the charges would stick.

Now, you wanna let me in and talk?

Have you got a badge?

I'll show you a badge when you open
the goddamn door!

I don't have a badge.

I'm issued a licence, a piece of paper.
And I left it at home.

You Tracy Fuller?

Can we sit down?

You recognise this man?

Why?

He's escaped from the insane asylum.

Seven years ago, he murdered two children.

Broke into the house and found them
asleep in bed.

It was a little boy, four and a half,
and his little three-year-old sister.

After the coroner's investigation,
the bodies were taken to the mortuary,

where the undertaker took one look
at them and...

said their bodies couldn't be
reconstructed for the burial

without six days of steady work.

Then he asked what had been
the murder weapon,

because looking at the mess
in front of him

he couldn't imagine what had been used.

The coroner told him there had
been no murder weapon.

The killer had used only his hands.

He's been here.

Think he'll try to see you again?

I don't know. He...

He said he had no place to go.

Let's play it safe.

Let's assume he will.

Will you work with me?

You found him.

I think so.

Where?

From here on, I go it alone.

Why take a chance on it, Cliff?

We'll let you have the credit.

No.

I'm gonna kill him, Charlie.

The closer I get to this guy, the more...

...he gets to me. I don't know.

Look, you better go on home, Cliff.
You're falling in.

No.

Not this time. This is the case
that makes up for a whole career.

If you don't understand that now,
you will in a few years.

Who hired you to do this?

So now you're a hit man.

Jesus Christ!
He killed two kids in cold blood!

You were there too.

What are you gonna use?

Lock needles.

You are straining our friendship, Cliff.

If you blow this thing at all...

You'll never hear from me again.

All right.

Take your time.

And do it good.

You OK?

All right.

Keep it, honey. My treat.

No luck.

Did you see him?

Still could be out there, though.

Oh, God.

Are you OK?

OK.

I'm gonna hang around outside
for a while.

I'll be back, on and off again, all night.

You sure you're all right?

I'm fine.

OK.

Bolt your door, and don't let
anybody in, no matter what.

OK.

I'll be seein' ya.

Listen.

Thanks.

Sure.

I... I must talk to you.

I want you to be my friend.

Please?

OK?

No!

No! No!

Tracy? Tracy!

Tracy!

Tracy!

What's happening, old buddy?

Hey!

Hey! Crazy Curt!

Hey, old fella,
well met and all that jazz.

Looky here. This is our lucky day.

Friend of yours has got
some money for you

and we got to get on back down
to the park now and meet him.

Hey, come on, now. Wait. Listen.
He gonna be comin' for you, Crazy Curt.

He's got some M-O-N-E-Y.

We can get us a little joy juice, partner.
Come on, now.

Hey, come on, man.

What's the matter with you?
You really are crazy.

Hey!

Hey there, partner!

Duncan?

Duncan!

It's over now.

Come on out.

My name's John Clifford.

I'm a private detective.

I was hired by Alexander Mandrakis
to take you back.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

There'll be no more pain.

You're safe now.

Take it easy, Duncan.

You're all right.

Nobody's gonna hurt you.

Just come with me.

It's all right, Duncan.

Duncan!

Duncan!

Hey!

Duncan!

Hey!

Duncan!

Duncan!

Grab him! Stop that guy! Hold him!

Duncan!

Come on! Get out the way!

Come on!

Nobody can see me any more.

Nobody can hear me.

No one touches me.

I'm not here.

I don't exist.

I was never born.

No one can see me any more.

No one can hear me.

No one touches me.

No one can hear.

I don't exist.

I wasn't born.

Come on.

- Hi, Mummy.
- Hi, Mummy.

Hi, you guys.
Look what the wind blew in.

- You been playin' hard?
- Yeah.

- Yeah? You hungry?
- Yeah.

- What do you want for dinner?
- Hamburgers.

Hamburgers? I never knew he liked
hamburgers, did you?

- Can you get that?
- OK.

Maybe that's Daddy, huh?

Hello?

Hey! How's my little tiger?

OK. When you coming home?

Real soon. Why don't you let me talk
to Mummy, OK?

OK. Bye, Daddy.

Thank you. Hello.

Hi, babe. How's my girl?

Fine. You wanna go with Stevie?

- Come on!
- I'm comin'.

You know that dress I got you
for your birthday?

Yeah?

Well, now's your chance to wear it
cos I'm taking you out to dinner tonight.

What's goin' on?

A little surprise. I'm leaving here now.
I'll be home in half an hour.

OK. Bye-bye!

Bye, babe.

...I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

God bless Mummy and Daddy...

And me.

...Grandma, Aunt Lucy, Uncle George...

And me.

And her. Now will you read us a story?

No, I will not read you a story.

You try and go to sleep, OK?

OK. Good night, Mummy.

Good night. Sharon will be here
while we're gone.

- OK.
- OK. Good night.

Mummy, will you come here a minute?
I wanna tell you something.

What is it?

Come closer.

Hm? What is it?

I love you.

I love you too, Beebell.

- Good night.
- Good night.

Sleep good.

Good night.

- Hi, Sharon.
- Hello, Mrs Lockhart.

I saw your picture in the paper
the other day. Congratulations.

Wasn't that a terrible picture?

I thought it was nice.

- The kids asleep?
- No, but they will be.

I'd give it about 20 minutes,
then go up and take a peek.

But I warn you, if Stephen sees you,
you're gonna have to read him a story.

OK, let's go.

OK. Now, I have the number
of the restaurant here

and you know the number for police and
emergency is 911? You know that, right?

Honey, in ten seconds
I'm gonna eat the staircase.

Yes, lord and master.

I'm not wearing that thing.

Have a good time.

OK. Thank you.

- Goodbye, Sharon.
- Bye-bye.

- Goodbye.
- You got everything, right?

I don't believe it,
district sales manager!

It's about time.

It's about time they recognised you
for what you really are.

You know, I'm going to be the youngest
district sales manager

in the company's history.

- Does this mean a raise?
- It sure does.

- How much?
- A lot.

Well, how much?

- You are kidding!
- No.

- And a car? Do you get...
- And a car.

- And a car.
- Yes!

I'm so proud of you.

What's the matter?
Don't you want your food?

Excuse me. Mr and Mrs Lockhart?

- Yes?
- There's a phone call for you.

No, I'll get it.
It's just Sharon, I'm sure.

Eat your dinner.

This way.

Thank you. Hello?

Hello?

Have you checked the children?

- Someone help us!
- Somebody needs help.

Please. Jill?

- What's happened? What's wrong?
- The phone! That man!

He's on the phone! He's got my babies!

- What are you talk...?
- Curt Duncan. He's back.

- He's on the phone?
- He has my babies!

- He's on the phone?
- My babies!

Please.

It's OK. It's OK, honey.

- Hello?
- Hello, Sharon? This is Mr Lockhart.

- What's going on over there?
- Nothing's going on.

Is everything all right?

Yes. There's nothing going on.
Everything's fine. Why? What's the matter?

Sharon, listen to me very carefully.

Look, if there is a man in the house...

If there's any reason why you can't talk
to me right now,

just answer "yes" over the phone.

If there's any danger of any kind,
just say "yes".

I don't understand.
What man in the house?

Sharon?

Please do me a favour.

Just tell me truthfully.

When was the last time
you checked my children?

About 45 minutes ago.
Everything's fine. They were fast asleep.

Wha...

Agh!

Sharon, I'm sorry about the hysterics.

We're leaving the restaurant now

and I'll explain everything
as soon as we get back.

Before we hang up, would you do
one more thing for me?

What?

Would you go upstairs
and check the children?

- No!
- Honey!

- Sure. Hold on.
- Excuse me. Excuse me, please. Excuse me.

Excuse me.

What's the problem, sir?

Officer, I'm Stephen Lockhart.

Just a second, please.
I'll explain everything.

Sharon...?

Why doesn't he hurry up,
get her to the hospital?

Sharon!

Sharon!

Sharon? Sharon?

Sharon?

Jill!

- Hello?
- Sharon?

- Mr Lockhart, what's the matter?
- What's going on?

Nothing's going on.

Are you all right?

- What about the phone?
- What phone?

When we called you from the restaurant...

Mummy?

When I got back to the phone,
the line was dead...

Go back to sleep.

Jill, I'm here.

We're both here.

We're safe now.

OK.

Look, if it'll make you feel any better...

I'll keep it right here beside me
all night long, hmm?

You know I'm a light sleeper
and a damn good shot.

Satisfied?

I'm sorry to be putting you
through all this.

Come on. Hey.

Hey, Bert.

This report just came in on that guy,
Curt Duncan.

It seems he broke out of the nuthouse
about three weeks ago.

Oh, yeah?

You gonna put this in our report?

Diamonds, Charlie. Diamonds was led.

Yeah, yeah, I think we should put it
in the report.

Maybe this girl tonight really did
get a call from him. Who knows?

Your lead, Charlie.

What the hell you doin'? That's a trump.

A card laid is a card played.

Yeah, you're right. We'd better leave this
on Ruznik's desk in the morning.

Sorry, fellas. Give 'em all to me.
I've got 'em all.

- Jesus Christ!
- I can't help that.

Say, can I see this a minute?

Yeah.

You guys have a stakeout on this house?

Yeah. Bernstein and Waller are checking in
about every 20 minutes or so.

Hello?

Cliff...

...I think I got something for you.

Stephen?

Stephen.

Wha... Yes?

Honey, where'd you get this?

Er...

The candy. Where'd you get the candy?

Operator, what does that mean?

I'm sorry, sir.
That line seems to be disconnected.

Then why don't I get a recording?

I don't know, sir. Maybe the number was
just recently disconnected.

Or maybe there's a temporary
malfunction in the wiring.

Can you try it again in the morning?

Yeah, OK. Thanks.

You can't see me.

But I had to come back.

Stephen...

Don't you know why?

Stephen!

Stephen!

Stephen!

Your husband's OK.