Six women have been murdered already!
Whether they resisted or not, they were killed.
(RUSTLING)
She said his name was David.
MAN: Get away from me!
I just want to get this creep.
And we will, Frank. Because we have to.
(ALL CLAMORING)
HENDREN: I want the man who killed my daughter!
(ROARS)
It was him.
David!
NARRATOR: Dr. David Banner, physician, scientist.
Searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have.
Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry.
And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged,
a startling metamorphosis occurs.
(ROARS)
The creature is driven by rage
and pursued by an investigative reporter.
Mr. McGee, don't make me angry.
You wouldn't like me when I'm angry.
The creature is wanted for a murder he didn't commit.
David Banner is believed to be dead.
And he must let the world think that he is dead
until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
(ROARS)
(HEAVY BREATHING)
MAN ON RADIO: Prestonville residents were shocked today by the brutal murder
of a young woman on the State University campus early this morning.
Police declined to elaborate on the details of the crime.
But reliable sources confirm that the murder
follows the same grisly pattern of four previous homicides
committed over the past five months.
In those tragic cases, the victims, all blonds,
were strangled, and a bizarre deathmask
was left covering the victim's face.
And despite a request from Mayor Tom Fowler
that students allow city and campus police
to handle these so-called Deathmask Murders,
the school's Male Student Alliance stated today
that they will continue patrolling the campus and escorting women.
Even if they catch him you know what'll happen.
They'll say he's sick.
Put him in a nut house.
In a couple years he'll be out again.
He'll be free.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON POLICE RADIO)
I tell you, Frank, being Mayor
is a big responsibility.
I'm real glad that you're here.
You know, you've got experience with this psycho kind of thing...
This isn't Chicago.
In Prestonville I'm just another underpaid cop.
With a couple of pluses in your favor.
Now, we know your background, the kind of cases you worked on and, Frank, believe me.
Believe me when I tell you I am glad that you're here.
I just want to get this creep.
Me too.
(YAWNS LOUDLY)
Oh!
Oh, I thought for a second there that...
(EXCLAIMS)
Well, you know, with all these killings and all.
Yeah, I understand. I'm sorry I scared you.
Didn't you finish work at 3:00, David?
Yeah, I did, but I...
I had a little studying of my own to do so...
Well, I'm glad you're David
and not that crazy whoever-he-is.
'Cause now you can escort me to my class.
Self-Defense for Women.
Joan Singer's class.
Ah, yes.
Do you know Joan?
Yes, as a matter of fact we're having dinner together tonight.
Oh.
May I enlist your aid? Thank you.
Dinner, huh?
Mmm-hmm.
(EXCLAIMS)
JOAN: If you recognize what you're up against,
then you've won the first round.
And if you know how to overcome it,
then you've won the match.
REPORTER: Well, at the risk of sounding chauvinistic, Ms. Singer,
it's hard for me to believe that someone so,
well, so fragile, would have a chance against a grown man.
And not to mention this so-called Deathmask Killer.
Ladies, it is possible to defend yourself.
You don't have to be the victim.
You can turn a man's force around,
use an attacker's aggression against him.
Right, Mr. Thompson?
Oh, yeah, right.
(GROANING)
Well, folks, you've seen it live.
You disapprove?
Well, I could never be as sure of myself as you seem to be.
(SIGHING) I don't know. This offensive resistance idea of yours
could potentially be dangerous.
What do you mean? More dangerous than assault or murder?
Joan, what do you say you and I call a truce?
I've been in Prestonville for six months and all we've done is battle.
Come with me. We'll have a drink. We'll sit down, we'll talk some more.
Maybe we could understand each other better.
Frank, I'm sorry.
I can't. Not tonight.
Hi. Frank Rhodes.
Hi. David Brent.
Well, listen.
You two have a good time.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Watch yourself in the clinches.
Perhaps tomorrow, Frank?
I've got to get back to class.
Bye.
Yeah, I'm too cheap. You like paying... You are cheap.
...three dollars for gas? I mean,
I can't believe it. I have other guys treat me a lot...
Wait! ...better than this!
(MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
(BREATHING BECOMES LOUDER)
(SCREAMING)
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON POLICE RADIO)
JENKS: Who's he, anyway?
MAN: New guy. Works at the library.
JENKS: New guy?
JOAN: She wasn't the kind of woman to take chances.
She was one of my best students.
RHODES: Yes. I know.
You see, her knuckles were scraped, pretty badly bruised.
She obviously hit her attacker.
Are you telling me
she might be alive if she hadn't resisted?
Joan, I've been a cop for a long time. I depend on my instincts.
I believe that resistance, especially in cases like this,
can be an invitation to murder.
Six women have been murdered already!
Whether they resisted or not, they were killed.
He's an animal, Chief Rhodes.
He'll kill again, no matter what the woman's reaction.
She was an education major. Wanted to teach.
She was very much alive,
confident.
Maybe too confident.
If she hadn't been taking my class,
maybe she wouldn't have cut through here on the way to the dorm.
Joan.
(SIGHS)
I'm don't know what the answer to assault on women is,
but taking steps
to defend yourself against it
is so much better than doing nothing at all.
Five years ago,
I was the victim.
Only different. I survived.
I fought back, at the end,
because I knew, I knew he was going to kill me.
Hysterical resistance, but still resistance.
My students understand survival comes first.
A woman has to judge her attacker.
There are choices.
Run, scream, talk.
Or fight.
Maggie Long knew that.
She wouldn't have fought back so hard
if she hadn't realized dying was her only alternative.
You all right?
What's this all about?
Just wanna talk to you.
Get some answers.
RHODES: That's my job, gentlemen.
Let's take a little walk, Mr. Brent.
Excuse us.
I suggest you come down to police headquarters and get yourself checked out.
It'll take a little of the steam out of people's suspicions.
I'll give you a clean slate
and things will go a lot easier for you around here.
Okay? Uh, yeah, but look,
would it be all right if I came in tomorrow?
I mean, Miriam and I are the only ones that are here today
and Ms. Thornton won't be back until tomorrow.
Yeah, sure. Tomorrow's soon enough.
Stick around here for a while. I want you to keep an eye on our friend.
How long, Chief?
All night if necessary. And would you please try to stay awake, Sid?
Yeah, all right.
Hey you want some orange?
(SNORING)
DAVID: Miriam, I...
I have to leave Prestonville tonight.
Joan will be very disappointed.
You like Joan, don't you?
As much as you do.
Hmm.
How's about a ride, sailor?
I think I better walk home.
But,
would you do me a favor, please, and give this to Joan for me?
Another goodbye?
More of an explanation.
(MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
(MUFFLED SCREAMING)
(SCREAMS)
(MIRIAM SCREAMING)
MIRIAM: David!
(MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
(MIRIAM SCREAMING)
Get away from me!
(SCREAMING)
MIRIAM: Get away!
Please, get away! No!
(MIRIAM SOBBING)
Get away!
(SCREAMING)
(ROARS)
Halt! Police!
(GUN FIRES)
(GUNSHOTS)
(ROARS)
SID: Hey, what's that?
What's going on?
Miss.
Oh, God! Oh, God! No! No!
Who was it, miss? Do you know?
(CRYING) Oh, David.
David, no.
(CRYING) David. David?
(MIRIAM CRYING)
She said his name was David.
MIRIAM: (SOBBING) David.
No! David!
(CRYING)
(CROWD SHOUTING)
MAN: There he is! The killer!
(SHOUTING CONTINUES)
MAN 1: Rotten slime! MAN 2: Murderer!
RHODES: Get away! Stay back! Tighten up! Keep moving!
You tell the chief we want this murderer!
I want the man who killed my daughter!
Let me have him!
RHODES: I can't keep him here. We don't have enough security.
FOWLER: Frank, I know these people.
Sure, they're mad. But they've got a reason to be mad.
The condition that poor girl is in?
But these people are not criminals,
they're law-abiding folks.
Yeah, well, I am going to move my prisoner
to State Police Headquarters, just in case
those law-abiding folks decide to become a lynch mob.
Frank, Frank, listen to me... Have you seen the people out there?
That'd be a mistake.
Your probationary contract still has six months to go.
Now look, why don't you let me tear it up right now?
Sign you on as a permanent member of this community?
What do you say? How about it?
Chief of Police.
That's four years.
All the benefits.
Tell me something, Mayor Fowler, what do you get out of this?
A head start on the governor's race, something like that?
Well...
Something like that.
Yeah, yeah.
We're both practical men.
The confession, and the conviction of this Deathmask Killer
could mean an awful lot to the both of us.
I see.
Good. Good, I'm glad.
You know, it helps when people understand each other.
(HEAVY BREATHING)
(HEAVY BREATHING CONTINUES)
... that the man arrested by the Police Department
is not the Deathmask Killer.
Now this is only an opinion, of course,
but it's an opinion
that's based on knowing David Brent personally.
And by knowing this killer the same way,
as only a former victim of the same kind of man can.
And I know, personally,
that this kind of individual is an animal,
a creature that prowls only in the darkness.
And only then to terrorize, humiliate,
and murder those who are weak
and alone and...
Do you want some coffee?
RHODES: Hey, Sid!
Yeah, Chief? What do you want?
Bring some coffee. Lots of it.
Right, Chief.
You there. Me here.
(EXHALES)
Do you
always interview prisoners at this time of night?
I mean, shouldn't there be an attorney present?
My attorney?
Well, Sid here is a witness. And I'm an honest cop.
But if you want to bring a lot of other people into this
I'll be happy to oblige you.
Interrogation of suspect, David Brent.
7 April, 1980.
Present are
Chief Frank Rhodes
and Officer Sid Fox.
It is 1:12 a.m.
Is David Brent your real name?
Suspect has nodded, indicating an affirmative answer to question.
Your Montana driver's license,
expiration date 1980,
number four-six-alpha eight-two-two,
is registered to a David Bowman.
Would you like to tell me why?
(SIGHS)
Once again. From the top.
I've told you everything I know.
Once again.
Miriam Charles can tell you...
Miriam Charles is still under sedation, you...
Social Security card issued to David Brown.
Montana driver's license issued to David Bowman.
University time card issued to D. Brent.
Look, I'm sorry.
But who I am is not important to the problem you want to solve.
What I know is important.
And I have told you everything that I know.
(CLEARS THROAT) You're one of the reasons I can never be a really good cop.
You know, a hardnose.
That's because I can, I can relate to you, you know?
I can relate to everybody.
The lowest of the low.
Black guy, white guy, Indian guy,
doper, rapist, killer.
You name it, I can feel it, too.
(SIGHS)
Rhodes and Janus.
Good cop, bad cop.
Janus?
The Roman God?
Yeah, remember? He's two-faced.
Each face is looking in the opposite direction.
Two sides to every question.
I can understand that.
Cops see some things, man.
Especially big-city cops.
All of the people swarming all over this damned planet,
and I can understand every one of them.
There are hells inside of each one of us.
Filth.
All of us.
And I can feel it. I can feel it.
(CHUCKLES)
Mushy, huh?
My old man used to say I was just all mush.
My old man.
Him and his women.
And you, whatever the hell your name is,
you are not what you seem to be.
You are a runner.
And Janus understands running.
He runs from Rhodes all the time.
All the time.
(CHAIR FALLING)
Do you understand what I'm saying?
I'm not sure.
I empathize with your problems. That's all I'm saying.
I empathize.
JOAN: Just a minute, Mayor, I want to see David Brent.
Leave it be, Ms. Singer.
I want to see his booking sheet.
And I want to talk with his lawyer. If he doesn't have one,
I want to hire one, or make sure... Ms. Singer!
...an attorney is appointed by the court! Ms. Singer!
I have a press conference waiting.
I don't care what you have waiting, Mayor.
I want to see David Brent!
You are not next of kin.
You can see him tomorrow morning, after he's been arraigned.
And that is that!
(CROWD MURMURING)
As you know, the Deathmask Killer has been apprehended.
Your Honor,
don't you mean the alleged killer has been apprehended?
And the killer is presently in the process of making a statement,
a full confession.
It's not true!
(CROWD CLAMORING) David Brent is not a killer!
McGEE: Mayor. Do you have a question, sir?
You pompous, ambitious little...
McGEE: Mayor Fowler,
when are we going to get a look at this suspect?
Well, you'll see David Brent
and his confession real soon, sir.
I give you Tom Fowler's word on that.
Now, do we have any other questions?
Hey, Paul.
How's it going, Sid?
SID: Kind of slow.
But old Chief Rhodes is getting his confession.
Well,
see you all later.
J.J., Willy.
MAN: Better not let him get away now.
Hey. MAN 2: Guard that chap.
Good bet they'll be moving him to the State Police Headquarters.
Probably real soon.
Tonight, tomorrow. Real soon.
But what are we gonna do, J. J?
This is J.J. Hendren's business, not yours.
He killed my Peggy.
I'll handle it my own way.
Do you people understand what you're saying?
What you're talking about doing?
Do you, Mr. Hendren?
Seems to me you and your Male Student Alliance
are the one's doing all the chest-beatin'.
What's wrong, Jenks?
You afraid to get down to the real thing?
Or maybe you wanna go tell the mayor,
or Rhodes, what me and these good citizens been discussing.
What? No! No! I mean that...
Yeah, Jenks. Come on, tell us. What do you mean?
Tell me, what do you mean, Jenks?
Hey, listen. I'm just trying to be practical is all.
You can't just go in there and take this guy!
Why not?
Willy? Yeah.
You know where the main phone trunks connect?
Yeah, sure, J.J.
Yeah, I got you. Okay.
HENDREN: You others,
walk away from here.
Nice and cool.
You go home, and you get your guns.
MAN 1: We'll work with you, J.J.
MAN 2: Now! Let's go! Let's go!
HENDREN: We'll take him after it gets dark.
(RHODES SIGHING)
You heard the mayor out in the hall there yesterday, didn't you?
I... I did.
Look, why, why... It's all political.
Why don't you get some sleep. We can both use it.
I mean, who the hell does he think he's talking to?
Some round-heeled beat cop with sticky fingers?
I was an investigator, man!
A real one. I put real criminals in jail.
And my cases always stuck, and you know why?
Hey, come on, Mr. X. Tell me why. Tell me why.
(SIGHING) Because
you always knew what they were thinking.
You empathized.
That's right, that's right. I told you that, didn't I?
I empathized.
Absolutely right.
Then, um...
You must've always known when you had
the wrong person. You must've known.
Absolutely! Absolutely.
You hear what I'm saying?
Huh?
You see what I'm saying? How does that slimeball mayor
expect me to nail a guy like you, huh?
Lt'd be different if you were some piece of human dirt or something, but...
I guess you've...
You probably seen a lot of
situations that were pretty rough, huh?
Yeah.
I left Chicago,
the department, to get away from this kind of thing.
(SIGHS)
Here I am up to my neck in scum again.
It's everywhere.
Slimeball politicians.
Maniac that kills for no reason.
There's always a reason.
Yeah, yeah.
Sure, reason.
You're right.
And when it's women,
cheap,
blond,
that's all the reason he needs, you see, that's what he thinks.
My old man loved the blond ones.
He used to take me along.
Can you imagine that?
Yeah, he used to take me along so Mom wouldn't get suspicious.
(SIGHS)
There I'd be, sitting in some damn kitchen,
waiting for him,
hearing them down the hall.
Always some cheap blond.
Girls nowadays.
I used to see them all the time in Chicago. The worst parts of the city.
Just strolling along there, you know, hitchhiking.
Bra-less.
Cute.
And I'd give them rides.
I'd take them wherever they wanted to go,
just to get them off the street, you know.
And I'd warn 'em. I would tell them they were just asking for trouble.
I'd warn them.
And they just laughed.
They laughed.
He must really hate blonds.
Got something to do with blonds.
Gentlemen prefer blonds.
Gentle men.
But he's not gentle.
No, no. No, no, no, no, no.
He hates.
He's always saying how much he hates.
"He" is always saying?
Get back!
Get away from me!
HENDREN: Okay, that ought to be enough. Come on! Let's go!
It's terrible, isn't it?
Horrible.
I'm sorry, I don't understand.
You understand perfectly.
Being able to see.
Knowing what's real and what's unreal.
It's a terrible thing.
It's much better if you don't see.
Better not knowing.
Joan's in love with you.
Uh...
I don't think so.
No, no, no, no. I know. I can see.
She defends you. She knows. She knows you're not the killer.
But you say I am?
Well, you have to be, there's no other choice!
There's no choices, David.
ON RADIO: This is J.J., boys.
If you're all ready, we best be getting to the court house.
Or we'll be late for our own party.
Willy.
WILLY: On my way, J.J.
George? GEORGE: All set.
Then let's do it.
I saw him last night the way he really is.
Rhodes is weak.
He always has been.
Rhodes'd let you go, see, 'cause he...
(STAMMERING) He doesn't understand about survival. But I do.
And he's blind. Rhodes is blind.
(STAMMERING) You know, he never even sees those little blond teasers
with their powder and lipstick masks.
He doesn't see them making fools of him.
(SIGHING)
(ALL CHATTERING)
WILLY: Where's J. J?
MAN: He's on his way.
Rhodes.
Frank, are you all right?
Frank?
What?
(PEOPLE CHATTERING OUTSIDE)
You don't know what it's like, do you?
You don't know what it's like when you have to
keep something locked up inside you, something
dangerous.
A terrible thing. It's like a cancer.
A monster.
Talk to somebody about this, Frank, a doctor. Tell him what you're telling me.
I'm talking to you! I'm talking to you!
(RECORDER CLICKS)
There's no choice, David.
There's no choice at all.
Rhodes... Whether it's me or you...
It's just, there's no choices at all.
There's just no choice.
Let me talk to Frank. No, he's not here.
Yes, he's here.
He's not here. You see him around here some place?
Frank,
hear me. You've got to hear me.
There are no choices.
Come on, give me a break! I mean, I can't do it.
I came all the way here to... Now, look...
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Get them!
Run for it!
FOWLER: Frank! Frank, what're you doing in there?
Frank, what's going on in there?
Listen to me, there's a mob out there!
They've cut the phone lines.
RHODES: Masks. DAVID: What's that?
They're all wearing masks.
Rhodes, listen to me.
Just listen to me.
No, I can't. I can't do that. He won't let me.
I've got to survive. I have to listen to him.
No, no, you don't, Rhodes.
Try and get some help. See if you can't get some help, you need it.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
FOWLER: Frank, what are you doing in there?
(KNOCKING CONTINUES)
I have to see Joan.
That girl wouldn't have fought back if it weren't for Joan.
No, that's not true. And he wouldn't have had to kill her.
No, it's her fault.
No! No, it's not!
Rhodes!
Frank, what's going on?
Will you tell me, please, what is going on?
What's happening? DAVID: Rhodes!
(CROWD SHOUTING)
FOWLER: Rhodes, do something, do something.
Rhodes!
Give us David Brent, Rhodes.
Give us that murderer!
You can't do this! You can't let them lynch that man!
All right! Let's get over there.
(ALL SHOUTING)
Stop 'em!
(ALL SHOUTING)
(BANGING ON DOOR)
HENDREN: I'm going to get you, Brent!
(BANGING ON DOOR CONTINUES)
MAN 1: Break it down! Break it down!
MAN: Come on!
MAN: Get up!
(ROARS)
My God, it was him.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
(MOB CHATTERING)
We better check it out, Ruth. I'm going to go home, get changed.
I'll see you in about an hour. Chief Rhodes' office.
(RUSTLING)
(MAN BREATHING HEAVILY)
(JOAN SCREAMING)
(ROARS)
JOAN: Help!
No! No!
(GRUNTING)
No! No!
(GRUNTS)
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(ROARS)
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
Oh! Frank!
SID: It's Chief Rhodes.
Rhodes deserves to die.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON POLICE RADIO)
Rhodes could never survive...
(BREATHING FAST)
Inside me, Joan.
It's him.
Him.
(RHODES SOBBING)
Has anyone heard what happened to David?
After the way this town treated him,
I didn't blame him for not coming back that night or ever.
You were under sedation. Rhodes ordered it.
You couldn't have told anyone the truth, and it's not your fault.