History Main / OnePhoneCall

* [[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] by ''TheSimpsons''. In the episode "Homer at the Bat," the Springfield Police Department arrest Steve Sax for every unsolved crime that ever took place where he lives in [[BigApplesauce New York City]]. When he asks the cops about the one phone call, Lou the Cop quips, "You watch too many movies."
* ''TheReplacements'': Buzz found Riley's cell phone and tricked Conrad into replacing people thinking it was Riley's request. When a cop tried to arrest Buzz for vandalism, Buzz claimed his right to make a phone call and used it to have the cop replaced.
* In ''WishKid'' episode "Mom, Dad, You're Fired", Nick was arrested and tried to ask for a phone call. It was at first denied under the claim it was only for adults but he eventually convinced the cops to let him use it. He used it to ask for Daryl's help.
* One episode of ''{{Hurricanes}}'' had three Hurricanes being mistaken for fugitives. While in jail, they were allowed one phone call, which they used to contact their home stadium. Topper, the team's pet monkey, answered the phone call, ruining it, and the Hurricanes were denied another chance, meaning that, since they were arrested together, it was one phone call for the group rather than one for each prisoner.

* In ''TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "The Big Problem", of the ''OhYeahCartoons'' era, Timmy Turner wished to be an adult. He eventually got himself arrested and used his phone call to ask for his parents' help but they wouldn't believe it was him, because they thought Vicky took him to school.
* At the end of the ''JusticeLeague'' two-parter "Tabula Rasa," Lex Luthor calls his former assistant and current head of [=LexCorp=] from prison. She hangs up on him.

* In the animated sequel of ''KangarooJack'', Charlie and Louis were arrested. Louis used his phone call to call for Charlie.

* ''TheMatrix'': "How about I give you the finger (proceeds to flip the bird at Agent Smith) and you give me my phone call?" [[WipeThatSmileOffYourFace Smith makes it so he doesn't need it]].

* Averted in Nevada, at least, where you have the right to make a "reasonable number of completed telephone calls" and within 3 hours of arrest. And the minimum is actually *two* phone calls, one to a friend or bail agent, and one to an attorney (unless they happen to be the same person). (NRS 171.153)

* In a ''{{Dilbert}}'' comic, this trope is applied to the pound as part of the PoundsAreDoggyPrison trope. Dogbert used his phone call to hire a wrecking company to destroy the building.

* ''{{Robocop}}'': Clarence Boddicker is dragged, bloodied, into the police station by Robo. Having been introduced as a cop killer, he's given a hard stare by all the cops. In response, he contemptuously spits blood onto the countertop and says "Just give me my fucking phone call.", with the clear (and correct) implication that he'll be on the street again in minutes.

* ''TheMatrix'': "How about I give you the finger, (proceeds to flip the bird at Agent Smith) and you give me my phone call?" [[BodyHorror Smith makes it so he doesn't need it]].

* Hannibal Lektor pulls a similar stunt in ''{{Manhunter}}'' when he's given a phone to call his lawyer -- he instead rewires the phone (it has no dial) so he can make another call to find out where the protagonist lives.

* The pilot episode of the original ''KnightRider'' showed Michael making his one phone call after being arrested for a bar fight. Cue the sheriff (who is [[CorruptHick on the take to the]] {{Big Bad}}s, cutting him off mid-call.

** ...Which he uses to escape from Jail (by calling a cell phone implanted within one of his gang members, detonating a bomb connected to it and destroying a large portion of the prison).

* ''TheMatrix'': "How about I give you the finger, (proceeds to flip the bird at Agent Smith) and you give me my phone call?"

** That said, in the US if you request a lawyer they cannot question you again until you speak to one.

* ''TheMatrix'': "How about I give you the finger, and you give me my phone call?"

Subtrope of HollywoodLaw. You've been arrested. You might be entirely innocent, you might be guilty as hell, but there are certain things you can count on. Someone will be ReadingYourRights, perhaps with some modifications for the purposes of humour. You'll get cuffed, taken down to the station and questioned. And you have the right to one phone call, no more, no less.

An interesting trope because despite the popular image it's averted in real life - there is no legal right to a phone call.

* In one Mad Magazine strip, a man is arrested for making an obscene phone call, and uses his phone calll to make another obscene phone call.

* [[TheMatrix "How about I give you the finger, and you give me my phone call?"]]

* ''TheMatrix''. "How about I give you the finger, and you give me my phone call?"
** And then:
-> '''Agent Smith''' "Mr. Anderson. You disappoint me-"
-> '''Neo''': "You can't scare me with this [[ThoseWackyNazis Gestapo]] crap. I know my rights. I want my phone call."
-> '''Agent Smith''': "Tell me, Mr. Anderson. What good is a phone call... if you're unable to speak?"

-->''"You've got one call, kid. Make it a good one."''

-->''You've got one call, kid. Make it a good one.''