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4[[quoteright:350:[[Website/CollegeHumor https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/collegehumor_onephonecall.jpg]]]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:"You got one call, son. Make it a good one."]]
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9
10->''"Freeze! You're under arrest. You have the right to the remains of a silent attorney! If you cannot afford one, ''tough noogies!'' You can make ''one'' phone call. I recommend Trixie 976-555-LOVE."''
11-->-- '''Crais''', ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', "Won't Get Fooled Again"
12
13A standard part of the stock HollywoodLaw arrest procedure, along with the expected reading of your [[ReadingYourRights Miranda rights]]. After the person is hauled down to the station in cuffs, it is required that they be provided with the ability to make one, ''single'', phone call to ''anyone'' they want.
14
15This makes sense for the most part, as the prisoner should be able to contact a friend or family member to let them know where they are, and that they haven't disappeared off the face of the Earth. However, fictional works typically crank this up for drama, by guaranteeing the arrestee one individual phone call, but with no exceptions. Meaning if the call doesn't go through due to some technical glitch (or is interrupted by a corrupt hick or the like), they don't get a second call.
16
17The sensible thing to do would be for the suspect to use this opportunity to contact a lawyer, best friend, or relative, who will help them take care of the matter. But in comedies, this call is often abused by using it to be a nuisance, or to call someone completely unrelated. If the arrest was for harassing someone over the phone, the character will most likely call them one more time. If the arrest was for something else, they might do something ridiculous like order a pizza.
18
19The way this is handled in RealLife varies largely based on the circumstances of the arrest, as well as the specific laws of the jurisdiction one is in. Typically the police will call someone close to you to let them know where you are, without necessarily letting you speak to them. You are generally not automatically entitled to a phone call directly, although you may be provided access to the telephone as a courtesy. That said, any person charged with a crime has the right to an attorney, and the police have to let you contact that person without restrictions. Assuming, of course, they live in a country where they have that right.
20
21----
22!!Examples:
23
24[[foldercontrol]]
25
26[[folder:Comic Books]]
27* In one ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' strip, a man is arrested for making an obscene phone call, and uses his phone call to make another obscene phone call.
28* A variation in ''ComicBook/StarWarsDoctorAphra''. Aphra is on a PrisonShip and someone gives her an illegal transmitter, pointing out that the guards will track it down and destroy it as soon as it's used. So she has only one chance to convince someone to come break her out of an Imperial prison.
29* Issue 43 of ''ComicBook/TheSupermanAdventures'' ends with Hot Rod demanding he get his one phone call after Superman turns him in to the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit.
30* Issue 141 of ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesIDW'' has Raphael in jail on suspicion of murdering another mutant because he came across the body of the dead mutant and was caught by the police. When he asks Police Chief Kara if he gets one phone call, Kara tells him "Only in the movies. Make as any as you need." Fortunately, it only takes one phone call to Jennika to get him bailed out.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Fan Fiction]]
34* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'' fanfic "Hard Luck Story" featured the Misfits in jail after the events of [=KJEM=]. Each Misfit had one phone call. Pizzazz said she'd use hers to call a judge who was her godfather in hopes [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections he'd pull some strings]]. She asked Jetta to call Eric Raymond and tell him to go to hell and then ask him to help. She asked Stormer to call Pizzazz's Dad because Stormer was the Misfit he liked the best. Pizzazz didn't believe Roxy would be of any help but asked her to call Clash anyway. Stormer wanted to use her phone call on her brother Craig instead of Pizzazz father so it was Roxy who phoned Gabor Manor.
35* In ''Fanfic/AGemOfADay'', [[spoiler:Applejack gets one [[ItsALongStory after she and Rarity are arrested for breaking into Suri Polomare's house]]. She uses it to call Sunset Shimmer to come bail them out]].
36* Chapter 34 of ''Fanfic/TheShockerLegit'' has the following line: "If you've only got one phone call, make it to [[spoiler: the Punisher]]. One word: Help."
37* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4485448/1/Mario-saves-peech-KASPARIO-comes Mario saves peech: KASPARIO comes!]]'' after Mario is thrown into a jail in Bowser’s Castle, it’s mentioned that he got one free phone call since he was in jail. He uses it to call the eponymous Kaspario to save him.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
41* ''Film/TheDarkKnight'': In accordance with procedure as stated above, the Joker is not given his phone call. He goes to some lengths to get it... [[spoiler: 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.]]
42-->'''The Joker:''' I want my phone call. I want it. I want my phone call.
43-->'''Detective Stephens:''' [[SarcasmMode That's nice.]]
44* ''Film/RoboCop1987'': 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. However, given that the next time they meet Robocop is absolutely through with fucking around, [[PreferJailToTheProtagonist Clarence might have been better off staying in jail]].
45-->'''Clarence:''' Okay. I give up.
46-->'''Robocop:''' I'm not arresting you anymore.
47* In ''Film/TheMatrix'', apparently Thomas "Neo" Anderson doesn't quite know his rights as well as he likes to think. After getting arrested and offered a deal in which the charges against him will be dropped if he helps capture Morpheus, Neo decides to [[BullyingADragon mouth off]] Agent Smith by saying "How about I give you the finger (proceeds to [[FlippingTheBird flip the bird]] at Agent Smith) and you give me my phone call? You can't scare me with this Gestapo crap, I know my rights and I want my phone call." [[WipeThatSmileOffYourFace Smith makes it so Neo doesn't need it]]; after all, what good is a phone call... if you're unable to speak?
48* Ramon gets one in ''Film/{{Hackers}}''. As fits his phone phreak persona, he waits until the guard leaves, calls an operator[[note]]The keypad was locked with a padlock; he goes around this by rapidly pushing the switchhook ten times to mimic pulse-dialing a "zero" for the operator, something still possible with landline phones[[/note]], and gets her to connect him to a completely different number than the one that was originally dialed for him.
49* Hannibal Lektor pulls a similar stunt in ''Film/{{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.
50* ''Film/BernardAndTheGenie'' has a variant where Bernard is arrested and rather than calling a lawyer, he tries to call his genie friend Josephus, since he can hopefully fix things with his magic. Unfortunately Josephus has been trapped in a bottle for two millennia and doesn't know how phones work; first he doesn't notice the phone, then he watches it in fear, and when he finally realizes it stops making noise if you lift and drop the receiver, he starts doing that instead. Fortunately, the police (who are listening in) believe this whole rigamarole is an elaborate code and bring Josephus down to the station, allowing Bernard to finally make wishes again.
51* In ''Film/DoubleTake'', Darrel Chase is arrested in Mexico for the murder of the local governor, after stealing the identity of Freddie Tiffany (who was framed by the BigBad). When brought before the local police chief, who offers him a cigar and a drink (arresting such a high profile criminal will mean promotions for the entire precinct). Darrel then tells the chief that he wants a phone call. His reply is a burst of laughter from the Mexican cops, who remind him that he's not in America and doesn't get a phone call. They even ask him (in a sarcastic manner) if he would like JohnnieCochran for a lawyer, implying that he doesn't get a lawyer either. Of course, it's entirely possible that the Mexican cops aren't familiar with American laws and get their information from the same place the public does -- TV.
52* ''Film/{{Candyman}}'': Played with. After Helen is arrested by the police on murder charges and informed of her Miranda rights, she asks for a phone call to contact her husband, but it's never stated that she has any rights to one or that it's the only one she'll get.
53* The main character in ''Film/APureFormality (1994)'' makes a huge fuzz about being denied his phone call.
54* In ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'', Eggsy uses his one phone call to call in the favor Harry Hart had promised after Eggsy's father died. To Eggsy's surprise, he's immediately released with all charges dropped. This proves that Harry's influence is real, and starts Eggsy on the path to joining the Kingsmen.
55* Late in ''Film/{{Scream 1996}}'', Sidney asks Billy who he called with ''his'' one phone call from jail, and muses to him about how crafty it would've been to use it to call ''her'' in the killer's voice, thereby throwing suspicion off of himself.
56* ''Film/TheHitcher'' (1986). The protagonist (who's delivering a car across the United States) is arrested on suspicion of the murders actually committed by the serial killer (the eponymous hitchhiker). He asks the police to call the car dealership to verify his story. The police do so, but hang up when no-one answers, despite protests that they should have let it ring longer.
57* ''Film/BeyondTheReach'' (2014). The CorruptCorporateExecutive uses his call to arrange for his private helicopter to land nearby, so he'll have a means of escape after doing a BathroomBreakout from police custody.
58* ''Film/SpiesLikeUs''. After Fitz-Hume is captured by the Tadzik Highway Patrol inside the Soviet Union, he asks "Don't I get a phone call?" This is a joke based on Americans thinking that U.S. policies apply in other countries.
59* Fletcher in ''Film/LiarLiar'' gets given one after him [[HeelRealization making a big scene]] in court gets him held in contempt and arrested, but when he uses it to call his ex-wife and ask her to come to the station with bail money she unsurprisingly hangs up and he's thrown in a cell to stew. Thankfully word of him "going all noble in front of everyone" made it to his [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal former secretary]] Greta who has a change of heart and bails him out so he can stop his ex and son from moving to Boston.
60* ''Film/LowTide'': After being arrested for burglary, Peter uses his phone call to contact Don Davis, the pawnshop owner he and his brother have been using to fence gold coins, and offers to sell him more of them in exchange to obtain bail money.
61* In ''Film/NorthByNorthwest'', after Thornhill is arrested for [[DrunkDriver drunk driving]], he's told he has one phone call, which he uses to call his mother, who already disapproves of his drinking.
62* ''Film/NormaRae'', after getting arrested, is told to that she has one call and that she should call her husband, but she insists on calling her union organizer instead.
63[[/folder]]
64
65[[folder:Literature]]
66* In Eric Bronner's short-short story, [[http://www.npr.org/2013/03/07/173727548/everythings-under-control "Everything's Under Control",]] the protagonist gets one call to organize a solution to his elephant problem.
67--> Listen, I'm in jail — but I'm not asking for bail this time. I just need you to make some phone calls since I only get the one.
68--> First, call the administrative offices at the zoo, tell them the baby elephant [[BlatantLies is not missing]]. ...
69* Averted in ''Goth Girl Rising'', the sequel to ''Literature/TheAstonishingAdventuresOfFanboyAndGothGirl'': When Kyra is arrested, she does make only one phone call (to Fanboy), which doesn't go through, but the arresting officer agrees to let her use the police station's computer to contact Fanboy through instant messenger.
70* In the novelisation of ''Film/SuddenImpact'', a criminal arrested by Dirty Harry keeps arrogantly demanding his phone call, but can't get through to the person he wants [[spoiler:(the local police chief whom he's blackmailing, but who refuses to pick up the phone)]]. As he's allowed a phone call that ''connects'', the police have to let him keep trying -- eventually he calls another member of his gang who can bail him out.
71* In the Literature/LeftBehind book ''Armageddon'', Chloe Williams is given a cell-phone by a janitor working for the Global Community while she was incarcerated, saying that she could make one phone call with it if she desired, like police departments used to allow their prisoners. Chloe takes the opportunity to use the cell-phone to call her father Rayford and warn him in a coded message about the San Diego safehouse where part of the Tribulation Force are located.
72* Referenced by [[spoiler: Molly]] in ''Literature/ProvenGuilty,'' when she calls [[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Harry]], and cites this as the reason she's not talking to her parents instead. Harry, being a detective, informs her that this is not actually true (but, given that he's a sucker for a DamselInDistress, goes to bail her out anyway).
73* ''Literature/EveryShinyThing'': After Sierra's alcoholic mom is arrested, she uses her one phone call to call her friend Lena and ask her for bail money and to keep Sierra until she can get out, but Lena doesn't have enough money to either post bail or keep Sierra for very long, resulting in Sierra being placed with a foster family.
74[[/folder]]
75
76[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
77* ''Radio/OurMissBrooks'': In "Bobbsey Twins In Stir", Miss Brooks, Mr. Boynton and Mr. Conklin are all locked up in gaol for [[ItMakesSenseInContext selling forged tickets to the policeman's ball]]. They pool their change, so they can use their one phone call to contact the head of the board of education, Mr. Stone (Mr. Stone lives in the country, thus it's a toll call). Lo and behold, before they're finished counting their change Mr. Stone is brought to gaol, having also been caught selling fraudulent tickets!
78* In a sketch in ''Series/NotTheNineOClockNews'', Mel Smith has been arrested for making obscene phone calls. Given his One Phone Call, he calls a woman and starts heavy breathing at her.
79* ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' had a gag about using the One Phone Call to call a girlfriend.
80* ''Series/ThePartridgeFamily'': Reuben is arrested, his "one phone call" is to the Partridges but the only one in is Tracey, who's busy watching cartoons. She hangs up on him. "Does that have to count? She's only eight!"
81* ''Series/{{Matlock}}'' was arrested once and got two phone calls (although depending on how you look at it, it could have been considered only one). He called information to get the number of a lawyer friend of his (Matlock was out of town at the time), then called that lawyer but got an answering machine so he left a message. He was about to make his third call but the officer watching him said "that's your limit" or words to that effect.
82* ''Series/TheDickVanDykeShow'': Rob gets arrested, he knows his wife is out so he calls his next door neighbor, where he gets their babysitter. He gives her the message and she puts a note on the Petrie door: "Your husband is in jail."
83* ''Series/BarneyMiller'': After being arrested for making obscene phone calls a man used his one phone call to make one last obscene call to the policewoman who arrested him.
84* The pilot episode of the original ''Series/KnightRider'' showed Michael making his one phone call after being arrested for a bar fight. Cue the sheriff (who is on the take to the {{Big Bad}}s) cutting him off mid-call.
85* Cited on ''Series/{{Soap}}'': when Burt is [[AlienAbduction abducted by Aliens]] as they put him in his cell he claims that he gets one phone call.
86* ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': In one episode, Will and Carlton were arrested for DrivingWhileBlack. Will used his call to phone Geoffrey, who was so upset about having his day off interrupted that he hung on Will before listening. Carlton called his Dad but he and his friends were so entertained by a game on TV they didn't listen. [[spoiler:Will and Carlton got their attention by making a deal with the authorities: they'd confess if they got to do it during a live broadcast interrupting the game transmission.]]
87* In ''Series/{{Misfits}}'', Nathan gets arrested for cheating at a casino. He uses his one phone call to call Simon for help, but Rudy answers the phone. When Nathan asks for "Barry" (his nickname for Simon), Rudy says he doesn't know anybody named Barry and hangs up on him.
88* The trope was once referred to in a ''Series/FamilyFeud'' question during the Richard Dawson era. "If you were arrested and could make only one phone call, who would you call?" The game-winning answer: the bail bondsman.
89* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
90** In "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS04E19 Search and Destroy]]", [[ArtificialIntelligence Samaritan]] [[EverythingIsOnline changes police records]] so the VictimOfTheWeek will be arrested, then transferred to a maximum security prison where he can be killed. He demands the right to a phone call, but Samaritan has altered the record to say he's already had his call.
91** Denied in "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS05E10 The Day the World Went Away]]". An FBI agent tells Finch that if he names an attorney, they'll make the call for him. Of course, the Machine prevents Finch from being taken into holding, and then calls ''him''.
92* ''Series/TheProfessionals''
93** In "Fall Girl", Bodie has been framed for a political assassination, and is hauled into the local nick by Special Branch. A three-way argument over this trope breaks out, with Bodie demanding his phone call (so he can tell Cowley where he is), Special Branch refusing until they have his fingerprints (which they intend to plant on the crime scene) and the desk sergeant refusing to hold Bodie incommunicado without authorization. Eventually they allow Bodie to make the call in exchange for his prints.
94** Of course [=CI5=] [[EliteAgentsAboveTheLaw doesn't have to worry about such niceties]]. In "Slush Fund" they're holding a South African hitman incommunicado while Ray Doyle takes his place.
95--->'''Van Neikerk:''' Nine three oh, double four, double eight.
96--->'''Bodie:''' What's that--your hat size?
97--->'''Van Neikerk:''' The South African Embassy. I'd like to talk to them. ''(Bodie shakes his head)'' What's wrong, man?
98--->'''Bodie:''' No phone.
99* ''Series/MamasFamily'': When Mama is mistaken for a homeless person and arrested for vagrancy, she demands to call her family, telling the cop, "I've watched enough ''[[Series/LALaw L.A. Law]]'' to know that I'm allowed one phone call!"
100* ''Series/{{Supernatural}}''.
101** In "Slash Fiction", Sam and Dean Winchester have been framed by EvilTwin shapeshifters for various spree killings. After being arrested, Dean pleads "just give me one, ''one'' phone call." The sheriff is inclined to refuse, but holds Dean's phone up to the bars and is completely dumbfounded by the subsequent discussion with [[MissionControl Bobby Singer]] on how to kill monsters with decapitation and cleaning fluids. He decides that Dean is insane and cuts short the call...until he sees the shapeshifters ''eating'' one of his fellow officers.
102** In "A Little Slice of Kevin", several people are abducted by the demon Crowley. One of them is WrongGenreSavvy and demands his right to a phone call. [[OffingTheMouth Crowley makes him vomit blood and die.]]
103-->'''Crowley:''' Any more complaints?
104* {{Parodied}} in ''Series/{{Farscape}}''. "Won't Get Fooled Again" has a LotusEaterMachine-induced [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQo9_VI6TnA hallucination of Captain Crais as a police officer]] telling Crichton he can make one phone call as part of a hilariously mangled version of the [[MirandaRights Miranda warning]], and recommends a phone sex line.
105-->'''Officer Muldoon (hallucinated Crais):''' FREEZE! You're under arrest! You have the right to the remains of a silent attorney! If you cannot afford one, TOUGH NOOGIES! You can make ONE phone call! I recommend Trixie 976-Triple 5-LOVE. Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you? Well do you, PUNK?\
106'''Crichton:''' ''(confused as all hell)'' No...\
107'''Muldoon:''' Then I can't arrest you! ''(hits Crichton in the face with his squad car door and drives off)''
108* In ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', The two are arrested for unknowingly selling stolen Gary Coleman grills. When they are taken to jail, they each get one phone call. Drake calls Megan and tries to explain the situation, but she doesn't believe him and hangs up. Josh uses his call to dial her back and actually does manage to convince her and give her some information to help them. Before he can finish talking to her though, he accidentally rips the phone from its connection because he was walking around while talking to her instead of standing in place like he should have been.
109* The ''Series/CriminalMinds'' episode "The Performer" doesn't invoke this by name, but it does demonstrate the SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome. They have a suspect in custody who repeatedly asks to call his manager. The police ignore his requests until he specifically invokes his right to an attorney, at which point he's allowed to use a phone, in the middle of the squad room surrounded by police, in order to call his manager so his manager can get him an attorney. It turns out it only took one phone call, but that's never suggested as his limit.
110* ''Series/ThePunisher2017''. After Frank Castle is arrested in Season 2, Agent Madani is incredulous to find herself on the receiving end of his one phone call. She tells Frank his GetOutOfJailFreeCard was a one-off deal and hangs up. [[ChangedMyMindKid She changes her mind]] in the next episode after Billy Russo escapes and she needs Frank to catch him, turning up JustInTime with TheCavalry to save Frank's life.
111* ''Series/IronFist2017''. After the Meachums arrange for Danny Rand to be thrown into a mental asylum, he places his one call to Colleen Wing, the only person he knows in New York City, but as Colleen only knows Danny as some BarefootLoon hanging around her dojo she's not inclined to help. Fortunately Ward Meachum decides to investigate the phone call and tries to bribe Colleen into staying out of events, [[RevealingCoverup which only convinces her otherwise]].
112* In "The Dollhouse" from ''Series/{{Yellowjackets}}'', Misty and Natalie each get one phone call after being arrested for breaking into Travis's place. Natalie calls Taissa Turner, only for Taissa to tell her that she's not going to help her out this time. Misty calls detective Kevyn Tan and gets her to bail them out by pretending to be Natalie, who he's into. It's never entirely clear, though, if they would have been allowed additional phone calls - Natalie doesn't think that she has anybody else to call and Misty is lucky on her first try.
113* One episode of ''Series/CSIMiami'' has a suspect ask when he gets his one phone call. Detective Tripp tells him [[SubvertedTrope he can make as many phone calls as he likes between arraignment and lockup]].
114* In the ''Series/DoomPatrol2019'' episode "[[Recap/DoomPatrol2019S4E1DoomPatrol Doom Patrol]]", Codpiece takes Dr. Harrison's advice to use his one phone call to contact his mother after he is arrested.
115[[/folder]]
116
117[[folder:Music]]
118* The Ray Stevens song "It's Me Again, Margaret" is about an obscene phone caller who keeps calling the title character until he gets arrested. He uses his phone call to call her one last time before he's jailed.
119* The Music/WasNotWas song "Dad I'm in Jail"
120* Tom T. Hall's "A Week In a County Jail" mentions that when he is booked, "They let me call one person on the phone." Thinking he would be there for only one night, he called his boss "to tell him I'd be off, but not for long."
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
124* In a ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' comic, this trope is applied to the pound as part of the PoundsAreAnimalPrisons trope. Dogbert used his phone call to hire a wrecking company to destroy the building.
125* In one ''ComicStrip/Blondie1930'' Sunday strip, Dagwood has tickets to a sporting event, but everyone he tries to invite is going somewhere else. He tries to sell his extra ticket and gets arrested for ticket scalping. The judge gives him one phone call, but he doesn't take it. No one was home.
126* A ''ComicStrip/TheWizardOfId'' has a character making his one phone call to a law firm, whose name is so long that his time limit on the call is up before he can actually ask to talk to anyone.
127[[/folder]]
128
129[[folder:Stand-up Comedy]]
130* Creator/LennyHenry did a routine about being arrested by the police and told he was allowed one phone call. "So I phoned my Uncle in Jamaica 'cos I haven't spoken to him in years"
131[[/folder]]
132
133[[folder:Theater]]
134* In one of the original drafts of the stage adaptation of ''Theatre/TheProducers'', Franz Liebkind's exit line when he gets arrested was going to be, "I get vun phone call, ja? Does anyvun know ze area code for Argentina?"
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Video Games]]
138* In ''VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne'', Max is having a nightmare where he's being interrogated by his fellow officers to confess to the murder of his wife and daughter. His response: "Do I get my phone call?"
139* In the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' post-game {{DLC}} "Catwoman's Revenge", Catwoman breaks into Riddler's secret hideout as payback for using her as bait for Batman (complete with an ExplosiveLeash). As she gets into the base, Riddler uses his One Phone Call to try and activate a prison break protocol. HilarityEnsues, between his SesquipedalianLoquaciousness messing up his computer ("Error. Do not understand exigent[=/=]immured[=/=][[RuleOfThree run]][=/=][[{{Angrish}} argh]].") and his desperate attempts to keep the police from realizing that he isn't actually talking to his lawyer.
140* Averted in ''VisualNovel/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw''. When Harvey is arrested in the third case, a guard tells him he is not allowed to have a phone call. Harvey has to do a task for the guard before he will be given permission.
141[[/folder]]
142
143[[folder:Webcomics]]
144* When Dwayne is speaking with two of the police officers investigating the GPF fire in ''Webcomic/GeneralProtectionFault'', and they are starting to imply that he caused it for insurance, he tells them that he shouldn't answer any more questions without speaking to his lawyer. One of them then takes out a pair of handcuffs and says that Dwayne will "one phone call to reach him," indicating that he's under arrest.
145* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': Variant. When the MIB collects Elliot, Ellen, and Ashley after an incident, Ellen [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2018-05-23 demands her phone call]]. The agent says (a little exasperated) that they're not under arrest or even in trouble, he just wants to figure out what happened. Ellen clarifies that she wants to call her super-powerful girlfriend to let her know she's okay, to keep her from tearing the state in half looking for her. The agent quickly agrees.
146* In ''Webcomic/FriendlyHostility'', the boys end up in a Mexican jail, and Fox uses his phone call to call Rafi. Cue Rafi's ringtone emitting from the crowd of other prisoners.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Web Original]]
150* The page image is taken from the Website/CollegeHumor video "Realistic Sobriety Tests", where two police officers use all sorts of inventive ways to trip up suspects involved in drunk driving incidents. One of the drunk drivers is later seen in the station and is handed a phone by one of the officers, only to call up his girlfriend and talk a bunch of nonsense.
151[[/folder]]
152
153[[folder:Western Animation]]
154* ''WesternAnimation/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.
155* In the ''WesternAnimation/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.
156* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{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.
157* In ''Film/KangarooJack: G'Day U.S.A.!'', Charlie, Louis, Jessie were arrested after [[FrameUp being framed for jewelry a and animal trafficking]]. Once the trio realizes who the true BigBad is, Louis asks the police for the one-time call to their lawyer... and uses it to call Charlie because he couldn't remember their lawyer's number.
158* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'' episode "The Big Problem", 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.
159* At the end of the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' two-parter "Tabula Rasa," ComicBook/LexLuthor calls Mercy, his former assistant and current head of [=LexCorp=] from prison, using his only phone call to demand she arrange for the best lawyers and doctors for him. Having become disillusioned with her former boss, [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal Mercy hangs up on him]].
160* In the ''WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries'' episode "[[Recap/LiloAndStitchTheSeriesS1E6Holio Holio]]", Lilo pretends to have been arrested:
161-->'''Lilo:''' ''[Behind bars at Kokaua Town's jail]'' [[MirandaRights I know my rights!]] [[OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers I demand a lawyer!]]\
162'''Officer Kahiko:''' Lilo, you're not under arrest. Come out of there before someone sees you.\
163'''Lilo:''' Not until I get my one phone call.\
164'''Officer Kahiko:''' I already called Nani. She's busy working, and she'll be here as soon as she can.
165* ''WesternAnimation/WoodyWoodpecker'' once invoked this trope before being executed by pirates. He called for help from his uncle. [[OhCrap Who was a]] [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks U.S. Army]] [[CurbStompBattle general]].
166* The ''WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse'' short "Big House Mickey" has Mickey being falsely accused of theft and is told to make a call. He calls Goofy to help break him out.
167* The ''WesternAnimation/GravedaleHigh'' episode "Monster on Trial" involves a court case between Max Schneider and an old woman named Miss Fresno who claims he crashed into her car. After the judge rules in favor of the woman, the class protests until all of them (except Reggie and Frankentyke) are thrown in jail for contempt of court. Max asks for his one phone call only to find out that J.P. Ghastly already used them all to sell his stocks.
168* Subverted on an episode of ''WesternAnimation/AlvinAndTheChipmunks''. Alvin tries to get a private audience with the Russian ambassador, but his efforts get him, his brothers, and Dave thrown in jail. Dave asks for his one phone call only to be told they don't apply in espionage cases.
169* On ''WesternAnimation/RockosModernLife'', Rocko's ''car'' makes one of these from the O-Town impound lot before being {{Prison Rape}}d by a big purple truck.
170* ''WesternAnimation/SonicBoom'': In "[[Recap/SonicBoomS2E32PlanesTrainsAndDudeMobiles Planes, Trains, and Dude-mobiles]]", when Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails get arrested, Sonic tries to call Amy so she can bail them out. Not only is Amy in the middle of a battle, she thinks he's prank calling her and hangs up.
171* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': In "A Very Special Blossom", Blossom steals a value set of golf clubs to give to the Professor on Father's Day. She learns the consequences of her actions when she gets a call from the Professor, who had been accused of the theft and is now behind bars.
172* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'': In the episode "[[Recap/DuckTalesS1E19DuckToTheFuture Duck To The Future]]", Scrooge is sent to the future, where Magica rules, and ends up getting arrested. Scrooge demands a phone call, which the police robot lets him have. However, he has to pay to contact Webby, who works for Magica in this timeline (it's stated that calls from jail are usually free, but you must pay when speaking to anyone who works for Magica).
173* ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'': Averted in "Rumble In The Big House". Jackie has to go undercover in prison to stop a bad guy plot. He is given multiple phone calls within a time limit, but they don't do him much good. He tries calling Captain Black, but he's unavailable. Then he tries calling Uncle, but Uncle wasn't told about the undercover operation and yells at him for being in prison before hanging up. Then he runs out of time.
174* Referenced in ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' version of "Daniel and the Lions' Den." The three wise men, who outlawed praying to anyone except their king, personally arrest him, drag him off to the pit, and inform him of his crime and sentence before tossing him in. "Don't I get a phone caAAAAAAAAAAAALL"
175* ''WesternAnimation/TheWackyAdventuresOfRonaldMcdonald'': In "Have Time, Will Travel", Hamburglar makes this demand before being thrown into the dungeon during Ronald and friends' trip to medieval times, forgetting that he is in an era where the telephone hasn't been invented yet.
176* ''WesternAnimation/TUFFPuppy'': It is mentioned that Kitty Katswell's villainous twin sister Katty used her one phone call to [[EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas call their mother on her birthday]], which is one reason Mrs. Katswell views Katty more favorably in spite of her criminal record.
177* ''WesternAnimation/TheLooneyTunesShow'': In the B-Plot of "[[Recap/TheLooneyTunesShowS2E15TheBlackWidow The Black Widow]]", Daffy and Porky get arrested for public nudity (which they have to point out since they're [[AnimalsLackAttributes cartoon animals]]) and incarcerated in a prison in Tacapulco. Slowpoke Rodriguez, the sheriff of Tacapulco, allows them to make one phone call. Daffy first tries calling Bugs, who ends up getting detected by the museum's guards for trying to help Lola return the Elmhurst diamond she stole (long story), leading to him getting arrested for breaking and entering. Fortunately for Daffy, Slowpoke allows him to make another phone call since Bugs didn't answer, and this time, Daffy calls Speedy Gonzales, who makes an eerily accurate guess that Daffy is in a Mexican jail and goes to Tacapulco to bail him out.
178[[/folder]]
179
180[[folder:Real Life]]
181* In Nevada, 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)
182[[/folder]]

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