Phone Call from a Stranger

An Iowa attorney unsettled by his wife's admission of an affair, he abandons his family and travels to Los Angeles. In the airport layover, he becomes a catalyst as he shares his life with fellow passengers and unwittingly uncovers the hidden stories of others. His arc moves toward seeking truth and deciding to return home to repair his marriage.

Eddie Hoke's wife, she is later revealed to be paralyzed from the waist down after a boating accident. Her confession of past love and the details of her marriage reveal resilience and a deep capacity for forgiveness. Her relationship with Eddie becomes a touchstone for understanding decency and love.

A boisterous traveling salesman who is quick with a joke, Eddie is revealed as a decent man who stands by Marie despite the lies surrounding their marriage. His warmth contrasts with his rough exterior, and his capacity for forgiveness anchors the emotional core of the story.

Wife of Dr. Robert Fortness, she has hidden the truth to protect her husband and son from painful consequences. Claire's restraint and secrecy highlight the conflicting impulses between protecting loved ones and facing harsh realities.

A doctor haunted by guilt for a car accident in which a colleague died. He plans to reveal the truth to the district attorney, driven by a need to make amends and repair the harm his actions caused.

Teenage son of Claire and Robert, unsettled by his father's absences and his mother's silence. He becomes a focal point for the family’s need to confront the truth about his father’s accident and the consequences of deception.

Binky Gay's husband, a man whose life is entangled with his domineering mother. He is a supportive figure whose relationship with Binky is tested by family dynamics and ambition.

Aspiring actress who hopes to free her husband from his controlling mother, aiming for a brighter future on Broadway. Her dreams intersect with the harsh realities of family and ambition.

Former vaudevillian and Mike Carr’s mother, a domineering presence who looks down on Binky and exerts control over her son. Sally embodies a world of old-show business attitudes clashing with modern aspirations.

Marie’s former lover who helps shape her past choices. He initially remains a distant lover but his actions reveal the complexities of forgiveness and loyalty when confronted with Marie’s condition and pain.

A doctor whose involvement in a fatal accident has consequences for others; his memory and the resulting guilt contribute to the film’s exploration of responsibility and truth.