The Failing of Raymond

Raymond escapes from the psychiatric hospital and reveals a plan to retaliate against his former teacher, Miss Mary Bloomquist, whom he blames for his failed high school exam. He presents a calm, courteous front while nursing a vendetta that has haunted him for a decade. The escape sets the revenge plot in motion.

Back in town, Raymond is mistaken for a helper answering Miss Bloomquist's want ad when she sees him at her classroom. He ends up tidying and packing her belongings, drifting through her routine with unsettling composure. This false introduction delays his plan while he maintains his calm demeanor.

Raymond's chance to act is sidetracked by Miss Bloomquist's coworkers bursting in to take her to a surprise retirement party. He watches the moment pass, unable to secure his leverage. The interruption pushes him to search for other opportunities to carry out his plan.

Raymond reports to Miss Bloomquist's home and attempts to break in, but his advance is interrupted by children playing hide-and-seek nearby. He retreats for the moment, leaving the assault incomplete. The encounter deepens the tension as he continues to pursue his goal.

Raymond spends the night in a boarding house and returns the next day for the last day of the school year. The countdown heightens the stakes as the opportunity to confront Mary intensifies. He waits, watching for the school to empty.

On the last day, Raymond waits for the school to empty and hides in a classroom. He discovers that Mary is accompanied by a man—her former lover who has returned as the new English department head. This encounter adds a layer of emotional complexity to the tense pursuit.

The former lover confronts Mary, believing her retirement is imminent because of his return. Mary clarifies that her decision is born from disillusionment with her abilities as a teacher and that she is moving to England. The confrontation dissipates his immediate threat but leaves emotional undertones in the air.

Meanwhile, the detective reopens the search for Raymond and, with help from Raymond's doctor, uncovers a crucial clue by studying a newspaper Raymond tore out. The clue points to Raymond's likely whereabouts and escalates the pursuit. The hospital becomes a tactical hub for the investigation.

Raymond bursts back into Mary's life, taking her hostage until dark. He forces her to administer the same test he took ten years earlier, pushing for a ritualistic completion of his revenge. The captivity raises the stakes as the dynamics of control flip.

Raymond completes the last two questions but still fails, triggering a murderous impulse. He advances toward Mary with a garrote made from twine, but trips over a box in the aisle and his attack is momentarily thwarted by Mary’s escape. The tense pursuit spirals through the darkened building.

As Raymond searches for Mary in the dark, she uses a commanding 'teacher voice' to command him to sit and behave. When Raymond finds the light switch, the auditorium is illuminated, and Mary guides him back toward the classroom with calm authority. This pivot marks a shift from threat to an attempt at reform through education.

Back in the classroom, Raymond's resolve falters as Mary offers a path to redemption: she apologizes for failing him as a teacher and proposes to teach him the material he missed. She drops the garrote, and two local police officers arrive, summoned by the detective, but Mary sends them outside to avoid disruption. The scene pivots from violence to an unsettling educational bond.

Mary reveals her plan to continue teaching Raymond at his place every day, and then only on weekends after September. She explains this decision while sharing a reference to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, illustrating a belief in growth and second chances. The plan closes the film with a fragile but hopeful 'teacher-student' dynamic.