On a quiet evening, Sidney Poitier plays the role of Alan Newell, a dedicated psychology student who volunteers at Seattle's Crisis Clinic. As he prepares for a night shift filled with routine calls, he hurriedly leaves his university but doesn’t notice a woman driving recklessly across the Ballard Bridge in the opposite direction — a woman whose path he will cross later in a life-changing moment.
Arriving at the clinic, he is greeted briefly by Telly Savalas as Dr. Joe Coburn, who politely provides Alan with his contact information to be used solely in emergencies. The secretary, Indus Arthur, quickly tidies up and leaves, leaving Alan alone in the quiet atmosphere of the clinic, equipped with his books and a sense of calm, expecting an uneventful night. His only initial call is from a drunken barber rambling aimlessly, a moment of lightness before the night takes a serious turn.
Suddenly, Alan receives a desperate call from a woman claiming she has ingested an overdose of barbiturates — intending to end her life — and she needs someone to talk to in her final moments. Recognizing the sincerity of her voice, Alan momentarily steps away under the guise of getting coffee, while quietly placing the call on hold to trace her location with the phone company. Meanwhile, he alerts Dr. Coburn and calls for police assistance. Returning to the line, he speaks with the woman, whose name is Inga, a name he learns through the tense conversation.
As the team gathers — with Dr. Coburn returning, Marian the secretary, and a medical technician monitoring the call — the atmosphere becomes increasingly urgent. The police, including detective Ed Asner, join the effort by working tirelessly to locate Inga. Through flashbacks, Inga recalls her recent struggles and the events leading her to this critical point.
Earlier in the story, Inga’s husband, Steven Hill as Mark Dyson, a fisherman, is devastated when he discovers that their twelve-year-old son, Chris (played by Greg Jarvis), is not his biological child — a secret Inga had kept. The revelation hits Mark hard, sparking emotional turmoil. Following a night of reckless behavior and an attempt at suicide by Inga, her relationship with Mark becomes strained, leading to more pain and confusion.
The tension escalates as the authorities trace the call to a nearby hotel close to the airport, prompting a frantic police search. Detective Ridley and his team locate Inga’s abandoned car, unearthing vital clues to her whereabouts. Meanwhile, back at the clinic, Alan and the others listen intently as the police finally burst into a room near the airport to find Inga still alive, apparently clinging to hope.
In a poignant finale, Mark, who was away on an expedition, enters the clinic amidst the chaos and thanks Alan sincerely for his help. Moments later, police take Mark and Inga to the hospital, where they will seek treatment and perhaps a new beginning. Dr. Coburn and the medical technician leave for the hospital as well, leaving Alan and Marian, emotionally exhausted but relieved, to reflect on the night’s events. With a sense of triumphant resolution, Alan quietly cheers himself — grateful that he could make a difference during that tense, life-or-death night.
The film masterfully explores themes of despair, hope, and human connection, emphasizing the importance of listening and compassion in moments of crisis.
