Utilities

Utilities

Year: 1983

Runtime: 94 mins

Language: English

Director: Harvey Hart

Comedy

When a neighbor’s electricity is shut off because she can’t pay, the community rallies and pays the bill in pennies. The utility refuses the coin payment and, due to a communication error, fails to restore power, leaving the elderly woman hospitalized with hypothermia. Enraged, Bob Hunt launches a campaign of sabotage against the company’s support systems.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Utilities yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline – Utilities (1983)

Trace every key event in Utilities (1983) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Electric bill leads to a community effort

Dr. Martha Louise Rogers has her electricity cut off because she can't pay the bill. Bob Hunt notices and helps coordinate neighbor contributions to cover the debt. The bill is paid entirely in coins, a plan that shocks the clerk, who is later told that payments in excess of a certain coin quantity are not accepted.

Rogers' residence and local utility office
2

Failed reconnection and hospital admission

The electric company fails to reconnect the power due to a communications snafu. The elderly woman is taken to the hospital suffering from hypothermia.

Hospital
3

Hunt embarks on his vendetta against the system

Hunt begins a vendetta, sabotaging assorted support systems across the city in protest of the outages. His actions target critical infrastructure and everyday services, escalating the conflict between citizens and the utilities. The sabotage triggers widespread disruptions and draws intense media attention.

Various city sites
4

The Finger is born

To avoid detection at one site, Hunt flattens himself against a wall with wet paint, leaving the impression of a hand with one raised finger in the paint. News media discover the detail and nickname the saboteur 'The Finger'.

Sabotage site
5

Phone company responds to sabotage

When the phone company is hit, it releases a public statement denying that long-distance calls can be made without a charge because of sabotage to its billing records. The claim heightens public curiosity and fuels speculation about who is behind the disruptions.

Phone company offices
6

Styx call demonstration

A girl makes an overseas call and plays a Styx double album over the phone, illustrating the unintended effects of the sabotaged billing system. The stunt demonstrates the public's willingness to exploit the system and underscores the stakes of the conflict.

Public phone network
7

Courtroom showdown over rate hikes

In a long courtroom hearing, a proposed rate hike by Kenneth Knight and Eastern Gas & Electric is to be voted on by a public commission. Citizens are given a chance to speak, and Hunt publicly confesses: 'I am The Finger.' The confession electrifies the room and sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

Public commission courtroom
8

Spartacus moment in the courtroom

Many others in the courtroom rise to claim they are The Finger, in a Spartacus-style gesture. Their masses solidarity amplifies the opposition to the rate hike and highlights the public's anger toward the utility.

Courtroom
9

Arrest and revelation

Police officer Marion Edwards bursts in to arrest Hunt as the commission nears its decision. She reveals that Knight has been destroying his own substations to gain public sympathy.

Courtroom
10

Power outage and celebration

The lights of the city go dark, signaling Knight's manipulation coming to light. Spectators in the courthouse celebrate the blackout as the scheme is exposed.

City and courthouse

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 16:00

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Utilities Summary

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Utilities Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Utilities

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Utilities

More About Utilities

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