The Endangered List (Case File #2)

SCREAM, EVELYN, SCREAM! (1970)

Production title: THE DATE

CAST
Stafford Repp (Elmer Keydatt)
Evelyn King (Evelyn Worthington)
Lance Fuller (The Policeman)
Fran Ryan (The Old Woman)
Willard Sage (The Drunk)
Burt Ward (Dune Buggy Driver)

CREDITS
Screenplay: Robert Hensley and R. David McGonagle
Editor: Robert Freeman
Director of Photography: Stanley Cortez
Production Manager: Jay Lawrence
Director: Robert Hensley and Tom Anthony
Second Unit Director: Rick Shotwell
Assistant Director: William White
Producer: Hubie Kerns
Executive Producer: Lee Shrout
Music: Hal Southern and Harold Hensley
Music Supervisor: William Luce

Color by CFI
A Hubie Kerns presentation
Released by Cougar Pictures, Ltd.
MPAA rating: PG (1973)

SYNOPSIS

ELMER KEYDATT (Stafford Repp), a 40-year old odd-ball, runs a small antique shop. His prized possession is a restored limousine. More humored than beloved, Elmer is looked upon as a simple man. But Elmer is not as simple as he appears for deep down he is a disturbed person, a paranoiac in fact; the victim of a mother complex, and, the fires that have been smouldering since childhood are soon to take flame.

EVELYN WORTHINGTON (Evelyn King), thirtyish, and an attractive lonely heart, has placed a personals ad in search of male companionship. Elmer, posing as a sophisticate, answers the 'phone, giving a pseudo name. In Evelyn, he sees fair game. A dinner date is planned for an uptown restaurant; Elmer will send his limousine for her. The car arrives – with Elmer disguised as the chauffeur.

The limousine takes a course away from the restaurant; Evelyn becomes suspicious. Frightened, she panics. But her cries go unheeded as the car threads its way through traffic – headed not for the restaurant but for Elmer's house. As the big car speeds on, Elmer flips a switch; Evelyn passes out from a burst of monoxide gas turned into the tonneau.

The car pulls into the driveway of Elmer's house. He carries Evelyn's still form to a sumptuously appointed attic room. She is placed on a divan before Elmer's feasting eyes.

Evelyn, partially revived, fails to recognize Elmer as her abductor, now posing as her rescuer. In reassuring tones, he tells her he will call a cab and send her home – but Evelyn, now recovered, recognizes the voice of Elmer, the chauffeur. She tries to escape. She is trapped, a prisoner for the night – crying herself to sleep.

As morning dawns, Evelyn prepares to play his game. Feigning surrender, she submits to his romantic advances – when suddenly she is electrified with fear as the walls of the room open on a guillotine. Terror stricken, Evelyn passes out as the cruel blade crashes down on her helpless form. Elmer is ecstatic as he screams out, "Mother!"

Time passes. Elmer has placed a second personals ad.

Elmer's 'phone rings; the cultured voice of MARTHA (Fran Ryan), had seen Elmer's ad. She wants to meet him. They make a date for dinner, at Martha's. As Elmer hangs up the 'phone – the scene shifts to Martha, who hangs up the 'phone, and bursts into a satanic laugh, chuckling fiendishly as she picks up a voodoo doll and puts a burning candle to its face pondering the fate of her next victim.