They will say that I have shed innocent blood.
What's blood for, if not for shedding?
With my hook for a hand...
...l'll split you from your groin to your gullet.
I came...
... for you.
This is the scariest story I've ever heard, and it's true.
It was a few years ago, near Moses Lake in lndiana.
Clara was babysitting for the Johnsons.
Billy pulls up on his motorcycle.
She wasn't dating Billy. She'd been dating Michael for 6 months.
But she always had the hots for Billy...
...because he was, like, a bad boy and Michael was...
...just so nice.
So anyway, she decides that tonight's the night...
...she'll give Billy what she never gave Michael.
Ever heard of Candyman?
His right hand is sawn off.
He has a hook jammed in the bloody stump.
And if you look in the mirror and you say his name five times...
...he'll appear behind you, breathing down your neck.
Do you wanna try it?
So Billy began.
He looked in the mirror, and he said.:
Candyman.
No one ever got past four.
Not here.
Go downstairs.
I have a surprise.
She looked in the mirror.
And I don't know why...
...but she said it the last time.
Candyman.
She turned out the lights.
What he saw turned his hair white.
Killed her.
Split her open with his hook, and then killed the baby too.
And Billy got away...
...but soon after, he went crazy.
My roommate's boyfriend knows him.
So when did you first hear this story?
My friend heard it on the radio. It's true.
The babysitter roasted the kid like it was a turkey.
So what's the deal?
You guys doing a page on serial killers?
Something like that.
That's it. We're done.
Thanks.
-No problem. -See ya.
"See ya."
Seems they're getting younger everyday.
Remember the baby alligator craze?
When they got too big, they were flushed down the toilet.
They live in the sewers now. Some of them are 30 feet long.
-Where did this happen? -In Miami.
They went blind and albino from living in the dark.
It wasn't Miami. It was New York. I read it in the paper.
Well, then it must be true.
Why would Danny and Diane both be suffering from the same delusion...
...in two cities over 1 000 miles apart?
Let's face it, folks.
There are no alligators...
...in the sewers.
No, it's round the campfire.
It's bedtime stories.
See, these stories are...
...modern oral folklore...
...the unselfconscious reflection of the fears of urban society.
That's lunch.
-The dashing professor! -The lovely wife.
Helen, you know everybody? Creme de la creme: Harold, Diane...
...Danny, Stacey.
So keep up the good work. Thank you for your contributions.
See ya.
Do you wanna tell me about her?
What's her name? Stacey.
She could barely look at me, and she was blushing.
I guess it's because she's madly in love with me.
All those bursting adolescent hormones.
-You don't really think--? -No, of course not.
Good. I should hope not.
So what's the matter?
Trevor...
...you promised not to do the urban legends lecture this semester.
You knew we were getting data from the freshmen, so why did you ruin it?
I love you, but I can't hold up their education...
...while you complete a thesis.
Be realistic. I have a curriculum to follow.
Yes, I know.
So don't be mad at me.
If you look in the mirror and say his name five times...
...he'll appear behind you, breathing down your neck.
-Can I clean your room? -Sure, don't mind me.
So Billy began.
He looked in the mirror, and he said, "Candyman, Candyman, Candyman--"
Candyman, huh?
You've heard of him?
You doing a study on him?
Yes, I am. What have you heard?
Everybody scared of him once it gets dark.
He lives over at Cabrini. My friend told me.
Cabrini Green?
Yeah, in the projects. I don't know too much about it.
But my friend knows about it. Her cousin lives at Cabrini.
-They say he killed a lady. -Can I talk to your friend?
Sure.
Kitty?
What do you want?
Lady down here wanna talk to you.
She's coming.
I'm Helen Lyle.
Nice to meet you. Henrietta Mosely.
And this is Kitty Culver.
Tell her about the Candyman.
All I know is...
...there was a lady in a tub, and she heard a noise.
Do you remember her name?
I think her name was Ruthie Jean.
She heard smashing, like someone was making a hole in the wall.
So Ruthie called 91 1 and said, "Somebody's coming through the walls."
They didn't believe her.
They thought the lady was crazy, right?
She called 91 1 again, and they still didn't believe her.
When they finally got there, she was dead.
Was she shot?
No.
She was killed with a hook.
It's true.
Yeah, it is. I read it in the papers.
Candyman killed her.
Yeah, but I don't know nothing about that.
Helen, this is sick.
This isn't a fairy tale. A woman got killed.
That's not the half of it.
That's Cabrini Green, unrecognizable today.
I won't even drive past there. Heard a kid got shot there.
Every day.
Okay, now look carefully at this picture...
...and then this one.
Do you spot it?
No.
It's not Cabrini Green.
That's this building, Lincoln Village.
My apartment was built as a housing project.
Now take a look at this.
Once built, the city saw there was no barrier from here to the Gold Coast.
Unlike where the highway and the EI train keep the ghetto cut off.
So they made minor alterations.
They covered the cinder block in plaster and sold the lot as condos.
How much did you pay for this?
Don't ask.
Wait till you see this.
Here's proof.
The killer, or killers, they don't know which...
...smashed through the back of this cabinet.
See, there's no wall there.
It's only a medicine chest between us and the other apartment.
What are you doing? Someone could be on the toilet.
No, the apartment's vacant.
Okay, now take a look.
That is amazing!
Someone's in there!
-I saw a light go on! -There's nobody there.
-Faking! -That's not funny.
-You didn't scare me at all. -Yeah, right.
You don't believe that nonsense, do you?
I don't. Do you?
All right....
Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman...
...Candyman.
You chicken!
You have to do it five times! Come on.
Trevor?
-Oh, Trevor! -Who were you expecting?
What time is it?
It's late and I'm smashed.
Sorry I scared you.
What's with the arsenal? It's only eight blocks.
You got us dressed up like cops.
I just said dress conservatively.
Well, we look like cops.
-Why try to scare me? -I'm not!
I want you to think. The gangs hold this area hostage.
Let's just turn around!
Let's just go back...
...and write a boring regurgitation of the usual crap on urban legend.
We've got a real shot here, Bernadette.
An entire community starts attributing daily horrors to a mythical figure.
Would Trevor and Archie chicken out?
In a second.
Exactly.
All right.
Wanna wait here?
No.
Then let's go.
And lock the car.
Where you going?
Just going inside.
Excuse me, you can't come up here.
-Just going to see a friend. -Sure you're not the police?
Look like 5-0 to me!
Ask blondie where she's going.
Who's she going to see?
Let's take the stairs. Come on.
Where you all going there?
Heads up, people! 5-0 coming up the back door!
Police!
They think we're cops. They're not gonna follow us.
Hang on.
Look at this.
This is great.
"Sweets to...
...the sweet!"
Hurry up, Helen.
-Let me just get the door. -Jesus!
Sorry.
Jesus, Helen!
Here it is.
Don't go in there!
Come on, come on.
Jesus, it stinks.
See, I was right. The layout is identical.
Which means the bathroom is over there.
-Helen! -What's the problem?
A woman died in there. Leave it!
There's nothing to see.
Wait a minute.
This is where he crawled through, right?
We found it. Let's go.
Wait a second.
Okay, hang on to this.
What?
I'm just gonna go through.
-When I get back, we'll go. -You're kidding.
It's a derelict apartment.
What if someone's packing drugs? You just apologize and give your card?
All right, let's listen.
There's nobody there.
Hurry up! Be careful.
Give me the camera.
You got five minutes.
Okay, five.
Damn it!
Bernadette!
Sorry.
I ran out of film. I gotta go back.
No way!
No way, Helen! We're out of here.
Hey, what you all doing in there?
We're just leaving.
You here for the sweep?
We're not cops. We're from the university.
You don't belong here.
Don't be going through people's apartments!
Helen Lyle. This is Bernadette Walsh. We're doing a thesis.
We want to just talk to you for a few minutes.
Here, this is my card.
My baby.
Come on, let's go.
Whites never come here except to cause us a problem.
Believe me, that's not what we want to do.
So you say you're doing a study?
What you gonna say?
That we bad?
We steal?
We gangbang?
We all on drugs, right?
We ain't all like them assholes downstairs.
I just wanna raise my child good.
He's a beautiful little boy.
He's all I got.
What's his name?
Anthony.
I'm Anne-Marie.
Anne-Marie McCoy.
-I'm sorry we disturbed you. -We'll just get out of your way.
It's okay. I mean, I don't mean to be rude....
It's just the white folks that come here ain't too handshaking with us.
-What you doing here? -Let me help you.
You making a mess here, huh?
Thanks.
You got kids?
No, but I'd love one.
Got my eye on this one big time.
Not gonna get him.
Wanna know about Ruthie Jean?
They all been here, you know?
Newspapers...
...cops, caseworkers.
They all wanna know.
I heard her screaming.
I heard through the walls.
I dialled 91 1 . Nobody came.
Everybody scared.
He could come right through these walls.
I'm scared.
Scared for my child.
They never gonna catch him.
Who?
Candyman.
-Be nice. -I am.
Very nice.
How are our two beautiful graduate students doing?
Trevor says you're dabbling in my favourite subject.
I can't wait to review your data.
-I can fit you in tomorrow. -We're not ready yet.
That's precisely the moment which I can be of greatest assistance.
Before you disappear down a path to academic Bolivia.
I think I've been there.
Actually, Purcell, we're about to bury you.
What?
We'll have something in a week or so. But we only went to Cabrini today--
Cabrini Green?
Candyman country.
If you're after the hook man, read the paper I wrote about him...
...1 0 years ago.
You know the story, don't you?
Then how are you going to bury me?
The legend first appeared in 1 890.
Candyman was the son of a slave.
His father had amassed a fortune from designing a device...
...for the mass producing of shoes after the Civil War.
Candyman had been sent to the best schools...
...and had grown up in polite society.
He had a prodigious talent as an artist...
...and was much sought after when it came to the...
...documenting of one's wealth and position in society in a portrait.
It was in this latter capacity...
...he was hired by a rich landowner to capture his daughter's virginal beauty.
Of course, they fell deeply in love, and she became pregnant.
Poor Candyman.
Her father executed a terrible revenge.
He paid a pack of brutal hooligans to do the deed.
They chased Candyman through the town to Cabrini Green...
...where they proceeded to saw off his right hand with a rusty blade.
And no one came to his aid.
But this was just the beginning of his ordeal.
Nearby there was an apiary.
Dozens of hives filled with hungry bees.
They smashed the hives and stole the honeycomb...
...and smeared it over his prone, naked body.
Candyman was stung to death by the bees.
They burned his body on a giant pyre...
... then scattered his ashes over Cabrini Green.
Hello.
Anne-Marie ain't in.
Are you sure?
Yeah, she said you'd be back.
What's your name?
Jake.
Listen, Jake, maybe you can help me out.
I wanted to find out about that woman who got killed.
Do you know anything about that?
Her name was Ruthie Jean.
I don't know nothing.
Did anybody else talk about it?
You know, it's okay to talk to me...
...Jake...
...because I'm not a cop.
So nobody will get in trouble.
I can't say nothing, or Candyman will get me.
Candyman, huh?
You scared of him?
I ain't scared of nobody.
But you're crazy, walking here on your own.
It ain't safe around here.
Yeah, I know.
But I don't scare too easy either, Jake.
You know, you don't have to tell me.
You could just show me.
And if you show me where Candyman is, I'll make you a promise.
It'll be our secret.
Unless you're too scared.
Somebody building a bonfire?
Yeah, for the party.
In there.
Candyman's in there?
My friend Charlie say so.
A boy got killed there.
Who was he?
Ain't sure. Charlie told me he was weird.
He was crazy?
No, a retard.
His mom was in the store.
The boy had to go to the bathroom.
His mom is taking her time, choosing this, looking at that...
...so the boy start moaning.
His mom get mad at him, send him across the street.
His mom is at the checkout.
She hears him screaming.
Mommy!
There's a big tough guy.
He runs over to check it out.
Come out of there shaking and crying.
He only been in there five seconds.
Come out of there, and his hair turned white.
I mean, it turned white, just like that!
Was the boy murdered?
Worse.
He's lying on the floor in a pool of blood, holding himself.
They found it floating in the toilet.
Can't fix that. Better off dead.
Did Candyman do this?
You wait here for me, okay?
Okay.
Hello?
Candyman!
Oh, excuse me.
I'm done here. I'll get out of your way.
Listen, I don't wanna interfere.
I'm not a cop.
I'm from the University of Illinois.
I'll just get out of your way.
Come on! Let me go!
You're not being very smart!
My colleagues know I'm here and expect me back.
Now let me go!
I hear you're looking for Candyman, bitch.
Well, you found him!
"We hear you're looking for Candyman, bitch."
Step back.
Number four, step forward and say the line.
"We hear you're looking for Candyman, bitch."
Step back.
Number five, step forward and say the line.
"We hear you're looking for Candyman, bitch."
Step back. Take them out.
Number five.
Good work.
How'd you catch him?
We swept the place.
We work down from the top floor. That way, you can flush them all out.
Whole of Cabrini is locked down now.
You're lucky to be alive, Ms. Lyle.
-Did he kill Ruthie Jean? -Oh, no question.
Killed that kid as well.
He ran the Overlords.
We knew everything about him.
We couldn't bring him in before, because no one would testify.
We can't protect them down at Cabrini Green, and they knew that.
What about the little boy? Jake?
We don't need him. We have you.
Hey, Jake!
I wanted to thank you for saving my life.
I wanna go home!
We'll get you out of here.
You did good.
You said it was our secret. You lied!
It still is, Jake. You don't have to go to court.
Candyman will get me!
Candyman isn't real.
He's just a story. You know, like Dracula...
...or Frankenstein.
A bad man took his name so he could scare us.
Now that he's locked up, things will be okay.
Candyman ain't real?
No.
Hey, you!
Slow down! You're supposed to be the invalid here.
-Look. It's much better today. -Yeah, looks great.
Come sit down.
Did you already eat?
No, of course not.
Okay, good.
Hey!
Welcome back!
-Thanks! -Let me see.
I'm so glad you're okay! I would have totally freaked.
Yeah, but you know what bugs me?
Two people get murdered. The cops do nothing.
A white woman gets attacked, and they lock the place down.
But this was a bad guy. You put him away.
That's all that matters.
-Oh! I've got a surprise for you. -What?
You're not gonna believe it.
-The pictures! -A photographer friend...
...managed to save most of them.
The camera was smashed.
That's not all!
Some publishers are very interested...
...since you made the local section.
We're gonna be published.
I'll come over tomorrow. We'll get started!
-Yeah. -Okay.
Helen.
Yes?
Helen.
Who is that?
Helen...
...l came for you.
Do I know you?
No...
...but you doubted me.
I'm sorry, I have to go.
No need to leave yet.
But I'm late.
You are not content with the stories...
...so I was obliged to come.
Be my victim.
I am the writing on the wall...
...the whisper in the classroom.
Without these things, I am nothing.
So now I must shed innocent blood.
Come with me.
Anthony!
Anne-Marie?
You did it!
Stay back!
You murderer!
Please stop!
Now stop! Stop!
Police! Open up!
Hold it right there!
Back away! Now!
Look out!
Remove your sweater.
Drop it and slide it over to me.
Take off your bra.
Can I please take a shower?
Drop it and slide it over to me.
Lift your arms.
Lift your left breast.
Your right.
Your underwear.
Can I please speak with Detective Valento?
Remove your underwear.
Frank!
Ms. Lyle, you're under arrest. Do you understand?
Please let me explain.
Do you understand?
You have the right...
...to remain silent. Do you understand?
-This is crazy! I was attacked-- -Respond to the question!
I understand.
At approximately 1 0 p.m., Anne-Marie McCoy...
...returned to her apartment.
She discovered her dog with its head cut off.
She cried for assistance. You attacked her with a meat cleaver.
You still possessed this weapon...
...when the arresting officers came to her aid.
Where's the baby?
I don't know.
You're sick.
Before I ask further questions, would you like to have counsel?
Yes or no?!
I would like to make a phone call.
I'm sorry, we can't take your call. Please leave a message.
Trevor, are you there? Pick up!
It's an emergency, Trevor. Pick up the phone!
I've been arrested.
I'm at the 18th District.
Can you please come pick me up?
That's it.
Do you know what time it is?
Three a.m.
There's gotta be another way out.
Cover her face. Don't talk.
-Okay? That's it. -All right.
Gonna be fine. Stick with me.
Just keep your head down.
People, back off!
We have no comment. Absolutely nothing to say!
We have absolutely nothing to say!
My client has not been charged.
Some information indicates baby Anthony was abducted and may still be alive.
The blood may be the dog's.
A suspect was released today, after questioning.
We'll just have to follow this one as--
They didn't mention your name. That's good.
There's no charges yet. They think they'll find a body.
I'm afraid they're shooting for murder one.
But I don't think they have a chance.
Do you think I did it?
Nobody believes that.
But it's crossed your mind?
Is there anything...
...any detail, however small, that you can recall...
...that would help us substantiate your version of events?
I blacked out. I mean, I don't know what happened.
I just woke up there, and there was blood everywhere.
Can I get you anything?
You sure?
I'm supposed to go over to the campus and pick up some work.
I'm concerned about leaving you alone.
-I'll be about 20 minutes. -Trevor?
Where were you last night?
I was here. I was fast asleep.
I thought you were with Bernadette.
Look, honey...
...l'm gonna stand by you.
We're gonna get through this, okay?
I'll be right back.
Believe in me.
Be my victim.
Do you believe in me?
Keep away from me!
I have the child.
Allow me to take you, or he will die in your place.
Your disbelief destroyed the faith of my congregation.
Without them, I am nothing.
So I was obliged to come.
And now I must kill you.
Your death will be a tale to frighten children...
...to make lovers cling closer in their rapture.
Come with me and be immortal.
Helen!
Helen, it's Bernie.
Bernadette!
Bernadette, go!
Helen!
Helen, honey, it's Bernadette. Let me in.
He's here.
Bernadette....
Go!
Helen?
Get out!
Trevor!
Trevor, he's here.
He's here.
Trevor.
Trevor?
Trevor!
Take her outside.
Hold me, Trevor. Please!
Why do you want to live?
If you would learn just a little...
... from me, you would not beg to live.
I am rumour.
It is a blessed condition, believe me.
To be whispered about at street corners.
To live in the other people's dreams...
...but not to have to be.
Do you understand?
Please, God...
... don't let him kill the baby.
Trevor?!
Where are you going?
No, you can't leave me here!
I can't defend myself!
What do the good know...
...except what the bad teach them by their excesses?
Murderer!
Allow me at least a kiss.
Just one exquisite...
...kiss!
Murderer!
Help!
Listen, he's under the bed!
Bring me 1 000 mls!
Listen to me. He's here! He's under the bed!
No! Don't!
Good morning.
I'd like to speak to my husband.
So would l.
-There we go. -What time is it?
Where are we going?
We're going to Disneyland.
Clyde, open it up!
What the hell you doing back there? A little reading?
Give me a break!
Dr. Burke?
Yes?
Miss Lyle, I'm Dr. Burke.
I want to speak to my husband.
I'm sure we can arrange a visit.
Visit?
I've been committed?
Do you really think these restraints are necessary?
This...
...is a writ of detention from the state attorney.
-Now, for the past month-- -Month?
We've been stabilizing you on Thorazine.
You probably remember very little or nothing.
Get me my attorney.
I'm working for your defence.
We have to assess your ability to stand trial.
You've been charged with first-degree murder.
Tell me what happened in your apartment.
The night you were admitted...
...did the killer appear?
Murderer!
Help me!
He's here! He's under the bed!
I don't understand.
Please! He's here.
Help me!
That's not possible.
Bernadette!
I'm not capable of that.
No matter what's going wrong...
...l know one thing, that no part of me...
...no matter how hidden, is capable of that!
I can prove it!
How?
I can call him.
Candyman. Candyman.
Candyman.
You're mine now.
Tonight our congregation shall witness a new miracle.
Please be home, Trevor!
Please be home!
Get out of my home.
Trevor!
What happened, sweetie-pie? Did you make a boo-boo?
What are you doing here?
I live here. Remember?
Call the hospital.
Don't touch the phone.
What's the matter?
Scared of something?
I hate the colour scheme.
What were you gonna do, Trevor? Tell me after I got out?
You knew I was never coming out, didn't you?
We should call the hospital.
Okay.
Go on.
Is that what you wanna do?
Call them!
I'm not a murderer.
I'm not.
Trevor, you are all I had left.
It's over.
They will all abandon you.
All you have left is my desire for you.
Helen!
You came to me.
The child.
We had a deal.
Surrender to me now...
...and he shall be unharmed.
-We have a bargain. -But I'm afraid.
Do you fear the pain...
...or what is beyond?
-Both. -The pain, I can assure you...
...will be exquisite.
As for our deaths, there is nothing to fear.
Our names will be written on a thousand walls.
Our crimes told...
...and retold by our faithful believers.
We shall die together in front of their very eyes...
...and give them something to be haunted by.
Come with me...
...and be immortal.
You're mine now.
It's time for a new miracle.
It was always you, Helen.
It was always you.
He's here.
I'm coming.
It's okay.
Check it out, man!
-What happened? -They got the Candyman out there!
I saw him go in there! I saw him!
The Candyman's in there! I saw him!
I knew you'd come.
Burn him!
Help! Help!
You lied to me!
We must be on our way now, you and l.
Our bones will soon be ashes...
...and we shall never be separated again.
Let me go.
I cannot!
We are already dead.
Come back to me!
Come back!
We commend to almighty God our sister, Helen.
We commit her body to the ground.
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
The Lord bless her and keep her and give her peace.
God of holiness and power, accept our prayers on behalf of Helen.
Do not count her deeds against her.
For in her heart, she desired to do Your will.
May God bless you. The Father...
...and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
My God, look at that!
Trevor?
What is it?
Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Aren't you hungry?
No, I'm okay. I'll eat a little later.
I was gonna make us a nice dinner.
Whatever.
Why don't you help me make the salad?
Okay, I'll be there in a minute.
Helen!
Oh, Helen!
Helen.
What's the matter, Trevor?
Scared of something?
My God, Trevor?
Trevor?