Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee, who is summoned by Jack Crawford from Behavioral Science. Clarice is surprised by Crawford's praise for her academic achievements, as she believed he didn't pay much attention to her. She had been inspired to join the FBI by Crawford's lectures and reputation. The Behavioral Science department is working on building a profiling database using questionnaires from serial killers. However, some criminals, like Dr. Hannibal Lecter, refuse to be interviewed, resulting in an incomplete database. Lecter is notorious for not discussing his own crimes, making it impossible for professionals to diagnose him.
Crawford asks Clarice to interview Lecter because the ongoing Buffalo Bill investigation has left him understaffed. Despite her fears, Clarice agrees as she wants to work in Behavioral Science. Crawford warns her against revealing personal information to Lecter, as he has a history of manipulating such details for his amusement. Even if Lecter refuses to answer the questionnaire, Clarice is still required to report on his condition. Crawford sets a deadline for Clarice to complete the task before she leaves.
Clarice meets Dr. Frederick Chilton, the administrator of the Baltimore Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Chilton shows a romantic interest in Clarice, but she remains focused on her assignment, much to his disappointment. As they walk together, an inmate named Alan verbally harasses Clarice. Chilton examines Clarice's credentials closely, questioning her qualifications.
Chilton speaks disdainfully about Lecter, discussing his habits and past violence towards attendants. Lecter is kept under strict restraints, unable to possess sharp objects or leave his cell freely. Chilton believes that Crawford is using Clarice, a young woman, to provoke Lecter into talking. Worried that Chilton's strained relationship with Lecter may hinder her questioning, Clarice decides to proceed alone. Barney, the orderly, provides Clarice with final instructions. As she walks towards the cell block, an inmate named "Multiple Miggs" makes a sexual comment, which Clarice pretends not to hear.
Clarice arrives in front of Lecter's isolated cell and politely requests to speak with him. Under Barney's supervision, Lecter examines Clarice's credentials and a chair is brought for her. Lecter inquires about Miggs's comment and mentions Will Graham, a retired FBI agent. Clarice tries to steer the conversation towards the questionnaire, but Lecter suspects she is more interested in the Buffalo Bill case. He manages to extract limited details from her andeventually agrees to look at the survey.
Lecter mocks the methods of Behavioral Science and criticizes the entire field of psychology, considering their criminal classifications to be too simplistic. He refuses to complete the survey, despite Clarice's arguments. Instead, Lecter turns his focus on analyzing Clarice, discerning that she comes from a poor background and attempts to hide her humble origins. His tirade deeply hurts Clarice. In a final attempt, Clarice tries to persuade Lecter to analyze himself, but he falls silent. Feeling like a failure, Clarice gathers her belongings, preparing herself for more comments from Miggs. As she pauses at Miggs's cell, he pretends to harm himself and throws his semen at her. Lecter, disgusted by Miggs's actions, decides to help Clarice in a different way. He provides her with a lead to follow regarding Benjamin Raspail, which could potentially advance her career.
Leaving the hospital, Clarice experiences conflicting emotions of anger and excitement. She returns to the FBI Academy and begins researching microfilms containing information about Lecter's crimes. She discovers
details about Benjamin Raspail, Lecter's ninth victim, who was found dead after missing a performance. Lecter had served Raspail's organs at a dinner party. Clarice contacts Crawford at his home, inquiring about how to reach Raspail's lawyer. However, Crawford advises her to focus on the report about Lecter. Later, Clarice shares a lighthearted moment with her roommate, Ardelia Mapp, joking about her eventful day. However, the laughter turns to tears as Clarice becomes overwhelmed with emotions.
Crawford reading while his wife, Bella, who is terminally ill, struggles to breathe in bed. He monitors her vital signs and reflects on his own sadness. Crawford tries to make their bedroom feel less like a hospital, but it's challenging to conceal the medical equipment. He wipes Bella's face and contemplates his own mortality, feeling guilty for acknowledging that his life will continue after she passes away. Crawford attempts to read again but finds it difficult to focus.
Crawford leaves a note for Clarice, granting her permission to pursue the lead regarding Raspail. Clarice faces obstacles in her search for the registration of Raspail's car through government departments. After a series of setbacks, she finally acquires the serial number and make of the vehicle but reaches a dead end. During a gun firing drill, Clarice seeks advice from her instructor, John Brigham, on where to continueher investigation. Impressed by her performance, Brigham advises her to consult dealership directories.
Following Brigham's suggestion, Clarice manages to track down the current owner of Raspail's car, Lomax Bardwell. She poses as an employee from a Ford Recall office, using her West Virginian accent to gain Bardwell's trust, as he is from Arkansas. Bardwell reveals that he sold Raspail's car to a nearby scrapyard, and Clarice confirms this information with the scrapyard. Unfortunately, the vehicle had been compacted. While discussing the case, Ardelia overhears Clarice speaking in her accent and scolds her for it. Clarice attempts to schedule an appointment with Lecter, but Chilton refuses to speak with her.
Clarice updates Crawford on her progress, and he informs her that Miggs, the inmate who made inappropriate comments to Clarice, has committed suicide after speaking with Lecter. Chilton initially blamed Clarice for Miggs's death, but Crawford defended her actions. However, Crawford questions whether Clarice revealed details about his personal life to Lecter, as Lecter sent him a cryptic note about Bella's illness. Clarice denies any wrongdoing and asserts that she would never gossip. Crawford suggests that since Raspail was a car collector, Clarice should try to locate his other vehicles through the executor and lawyer of Raspail's estate, Everett Yow. As Clarice departs, Crawford retrieves Lecter's note from the wastebasket and reviews the poetic stanza written by the notorious killer.
Clarice follows Everett Yow to Split City Mini-Storage, where Raspail's Packard limousine is stored. She is pleased to have an official FBI car and ID badge, even if temporarily. The unit containing Raspail's car hasn't been opened for five years, making it difficult to unlock the padlocks and door. Clarice uses car oil to lubricate the padlocks and successfully opens the door using a car jack, impressing Yow with her resourcefulness.
As Clarice prepares to enter the rat-infested unit, memories flash through her mind. She musters the courage and peeks through the curtain of the limousine, spotting an album of Valentines next to a pair of legs. She rearranges boxes to gain access to the front of the vehicle, where she can examine it more closely from inside. Instead of finding a corpse, Clarice discovers a mannequin. However, where its plastic head should be, there is a jar containing a preserved human head. Clarice is exhilarated by this shocking discovery and promptly calls the police before leaving the storage unit.
At thecrime scene, Clarice encounters Jonetta Johnson's news crew, who arrive before the police. She warns them to stay away from the unit, but Johnson distracts Clarice while the crew attempts to sneak partially under the door. Frustrated by their lack of respect, Clarice traps the
cameraman under the door and throws dust in his face. The incident is caught on TV cameras, and Clarice's outburst is recorded. The crew finally ceases their actions when Clarice becomes angry with their manipulative behavior and threatens them.
Clarice sits outside Lecter's cell, covered in mud from her time at the Mini-Storage. Authorities had already questioned Lecter before her arrival, but he remained unresponsive. Lecter sends Clarice a towel from his cell and asks her about Buffalo Bill. According to Lecter, Raspail murdered a man named Klaus, a Swedish sailor, whose head is now preserved in a jar. Lecter believes that Raspail lied about the motive, claiming it was due to Klaus's infidelity, to conceal an embarrassing sexual incident. Lecter killed Raspail because he found him boring and therapy was ineffective. He admits to serving Raspail's organs at a dinner party as it was the only meat available.
Lecter probes Clarice about her motivations, her feelings regarding Miggs's death, and her relationship with Crawford in an attempt to unsettle her. However, Clarice remains composed. Lecter offers his assistance in the Buffalo Bill case in exchange for privileges. Since Clarice lacks the authority to grant such privileges, she can only relay Lecter's message. Lecter predicts that Buffalo Bill will scalp his next victims and suggests that he resides in a two-story house, hoping to prove his usefulness. He taunts Clarice, emphasizing the number of girls who will die without his help.
Three days later, Clarice reflects on the news coverage of her discovery at the Mini-Storage. She attends a separate lecture from her classmates and worries that her superiors might expel her. Brigham interrupts her class and assigns her a task. Clarice must accompany Crawford to Elk River to investigate a potential Buffalo Bill victim. Brigham provides her with a field fingerprinting kit and a real gun. With little time to prepare, Clarice packs her belongings and meets Brigham in his car.
During the drive to the airstrip, Brigham reveals that Crawford is preoccupied with the stress of the Buffalo Bill case and his wife's declining health, which is why he doesn't elaborate on histhoughts. As they arrive at the waiting plane, Brigham reminds Clarice about gun safety and wishes her well. Clarice boards the plane and finds the Buffalo Bill casefile on her seat.
While on the plane, Clarice reads the casefile containing information about Buffalo Bill's known crimes. Buffalo Bill has killed and partially skinned five women, each found in different states. The victims were held captive for up to 10 days and were either shot or hanged. Clarice feels a deep sympathy for the victims and their vulnerability. Despite Buffalo Bill's unpredictable behavior, she is confident that Crawford will be the one to apprehend him.
Crawford sits next to Clarice on the plane and discusses details about the new potential victim they are investigating. He hopes that Clarice's background as a forensic fellow will aid in identifying the woman whose body was less affected by the elements. Crawford reviews the erratic details of the abductions. Clarice suggests that Buffalo Bill may be using the same route for both abductions and disposal of the bodies, but Crawford dismisses the idea. Computer simulations conducted by the FBI have not revealed any discernible patterns, indicating that Buffalo Bill's actions are disorganized.
Crawford advises Clarice on her role in a real investigation, encouraging her to ask questions and provide her unique perspective. He warns her about the chaotic nature of cross-jurisdictional investigations and advises her to rely on her own observations. Clarice feels confident that Crawford wants to test her in the field, and she eagerly awaits the opportunity to begin.
Clarice and Crawford arrive at Potter's Funeral Home to examine the body of Kimberly Emberg, Buffalo Bill's latest victim. Clarice sits in the backseat of the deputy's car, excluded from the conversation when the
deputy and Crawford exit the vehicle. Inside the funeral home, Crawford once again leaves Clarice in the hallway while he speaks to the deputy and coroner. The deputy reveals that the local police did not call in the FBI for assistance, but Crawford persuades him to allow them to view the body before the Criminal Investigation Section(CIS).
Under the coroner's supervision, Clarice and Crawford set up their forensic equipment while policemen wander around the room. Clarice reverts to her West Virginian accent to gain respect from the men, who leave when she asks. Clarice and Crawford begin photographing and fingerprinting the body. Kimberly's wounds are consistent with those of the othervictims, but Buffalo Bill has also scalped her, shot her in the chest, and cut two triangles of skin from her back. The girl's well-groomed appearance suggests that she came from a big city.
A funeral assistant named Lamar assists Clarice in photographing Kimberly's teeth. During the examination, Clarice discovers a bug cocoon lodged in Kimberly's throat, which she collects as evidence. Lamar provides additional information about the men who found the body and a possible cause for her burn. Clarice loads the fingerprints into Crawford's transmitter while he communicates with multiple police departments. As they prepare to leave, the CIS team arrives, and Crawford engages in a conversation with them to secure their cooperation.
After nine hours, the driver named Jeff brings Clarice and Crawford to the FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Clarice describes the Latent Descriptor Index, its keywords related to Buffalo Bill's case, and the new details she wants to input into the system. Clarice wonders if the previous victims had overlooked cocoon debris in their bodies, but Crawford dismisses the idea of exhuming the bodies.
Clarice recalls that Lecter suggested Buffalo Bill would scalp his new victims, but Crawford considers it Lecter's way of taunting Clarice. Crawford believes Lecter's information to be nothing more than clever deductions. Clarice accompanies Crawford to the FBI building and as they exit the car, they discuss the dimensions of Buffalo Bill's vehicle. Crawford apologizes to Clarice for excluding her during the conversation with the deputy. Clarice understands but asks Crawford to be a better
role model in his behavior. Crawford departs, and Clarice continues her journey to the Smithsonian.
Clarice arrives at the closed Smithsonian Museum and is escorted by a security guard to the entomology offices. She interrupts a game of beetle chess between two young scholars, Noble Pilcher and Albert Roden. After they pledge to keep the conversation confidential, Clarice provides them with the cocoon specimen and explains how it was found. The FBI wants to determine if the insect has specific habitats that could narrow down their search. The insect is identified as a pupa in chrysalis, specifically an Erebus odora, known as a Black Witch Moth. Clarice expresses concern that the moth's habitable zone may be too broad to be useful, but Pilcher believes it was raised in a greenhouse.
Pilcher and Roden compile references on the Black Witch Moth and a list of entomological publications andtheir subscribers. As Pilcher escorts Clarice to the exit, he engages in a conversation about moths, finding them more interesting than butterflies due to their diverse ways of living, such as the moth that feeds only on tears. Pilcher asks Clarice out on a date, but she politely declines. Back at the Academy, Clarice types up her notes and writes a memo to Crawford, suggesting that they schedule another appointment with Lecter.
In East Memphis, Tennessee, Catherine Baker Martin and her boyfriend are smoking weed and watching TV. Catherine walks to her adjacent apartment in the Stonehenge Villa complex to get some food. As she passes by a strange truck, she notices an injured man attempting to move furniture into the truck. Catherine offers to help him, and he allows her to lift a chair into the truck. However, when she bends down to look for rope, the man - revealed to be Buffalo Bill - knocks her unconscious with his cast. He proceeds to undress her and examines her naked body and scalp. He drives away from the apartment as Catherine's mother, Senator Ruth Martin, calls.
Following Catherine's kidnapping, the FBI initiates a standard series of events. An unmarked van is dispatched to Senator Martin's office and home to tap nearby phones in case of a ransom demand. The Reactive Squad and the Hostage Rescue Team at the FBI office in Buzzard Point are placed on high alert. The Memphis police discover Catherine's slit blouse in the possession of a man collecting roadside garbage. Crawford has a phone conversation with the FBI director and expresses caution about jumping to conclusions based solely on the slit blouse. Despite his concerns, the Senator plans to fly down to Memphis, and Crawford reluctantly accepts her offer to be involved in the investigation.
Clarice learns about Catherine's kidnapping and the Memphis investigation through a radio news broadcast. She quickly packs a bag and her forensics kit, hoping to be able to assist. However, she does not receive any specific instructions or updates. Crawford's secretary dismisses her to attend class without providing any information. Trying to distract herself from feeling left behind, Clarice joins her classmates, including Ardelia, in the common area to watch the evening news.
During the newscast, an interview with Senator Martin is aired, where she pleads for Catherine's safe return and appeals to the kidnapper's sense of humanityand kindness through home videos and photos of Catherine as a child. The Senator promises to assist the abductor in any way possible if he keeps Catherine alive. The broadcast then shifts to an interview with Dr. Alan Bloom, an expert on serial killer psychology, who suggests appealing to the killer to come forward.
Clarice finds a note instructing her to call Roden, and she receives a phone call about meeting Crawford at the Smithsonian. Ardelia urges Clarice to obtain assurance from Crawford that she won't be expelled from school for missing important tests. Clarice drives to Washington, recalling the strength she found during her time at Potter's Funeral Home. She arrives at the FBI building and heads to the Smithsonian.
Clarice meets Crawford at the Smithsonian, and they discuss the limited findings of the Memphis investigation. Crawford agrees with Dr. Bloom's belief that Buffalo Bill is unlikely to hold Catherine for as long as the other victims. As they make their way to the anthropology offices, Crawford reveals that John Hopkins Hospital discovered a cocoon in Klaus's head. Three anthropologists examine the preserved head while Jerry Burroughs from Behavioral Science dictates his observations to the remote FBI offices. Using Burroughs's machine, Crawford instructs his unit on how to search for Klaus's identity. Crawford suspects that Lecter lied about Klaus's murder and Raspail's involvement, as the distinct cocoon indicates that it could not have been used by multiple killers. He believes that Buffalo Bill is responsible for both murders.
Crawford reviews Lecter's psychiatric history, his work with criminal patients, and his collaboration with the FBI. He devises a strategy for Clarice's questioning, intending to appeal to Lecter's desire for amusement. By approaching Lecter seeking theories rather than facts, they hope to compel him to cooperate within a specific timeframe. They develop a plan to offer Lecter additional prison privileges in exchange for information that will save Catherine's life. As they travel, Crawford contacts numerous European agencies to assist in identifying Klaus. Clarice admires Crawford's dedication to the job. Aware that they cannot trust news agencies or Chilton, Crawford advises Clarice to keep new case details concealed. Working discreetly behind the Senator's back, Crawford finalizes the details of the fake deal.
Jame Gumb, whose real name is revealed to be Buffalo Bill, sings while showering in the upper-floor bathroom of his residence. Gumb had previously attempted hormone therapy tofeminize his voice but now alters it himself. He applies expensive cosmetics and tucks his penis between his legs to achieve a feminine appearance in the mirror. Gumb brings his dog, Precious, into the bedroom, where he dresses and places an automatic rifle on his pillow. Downstairs, Gumb prepares TV dinners for himself and the dog. He lets Precious outside and playfully observes
her defecation from between his fingers. Gumb takes the leftover food scraps into the basement and deposits them in a bucket, which he then lowers into an underground chamber where Catherine is held captive. Gumb sings to Precious while ignoring Catherine's screams.
Clarice meets with Chilton in his office, following Crawford's advice, and lies about the purpose of her visit. Chilton becomes angry when Clarice refuses his request to conceal a tape recorder during the interview. Clarice knows that if Lecter discovered the recorder, he would refuse to speak with her again. Chilton claims to be the more qualified interviewer and expresses frustration at having wasted his ticket to Holiday on Ice due to the FBI's whims. Observing Chilton's personal loneliness, Clarice subtly manipulates his embarrassment until he dismisses her.
Overcoming her nerves, Clarice follows the orderlies to Lecter's cell. She provides minimal details about the West Virginia investigation and updates on the case. Clarice classifies Buffalo Bill as a sadist and Lecter as a sociopath, but Lecter believes both labels are narrow and incorrect. He uses Sammie, a new inmate occupying Miggs's former cell, as an example. Chilton classifies Sammie as an untreatable hebephrenic schizophrenic, but Lecter recognizes that Sammie is actually a catatonic schizophrenic who could be treated.
Returning to the topic of Buffalo Bill, Clarice questions Lecter about his motivations. Lecter challenges the characterization of Buffalo Bill as a sadist, arguing that real sadists would flay their victims while they are conscious, not after they are already dead. Seeking further insight, Clarice mentions the phony deal involving the Senator, but Lecter expresses skepticism about its authenticity. Engaging in a quid pro quo game of exchanging information, Clarice shares her worst childhood memory of her father's death. Lecter then inquires about the West Virginian girl and correctly deduces that there was an insect in her throat. Before going silent, Lecter suggests that Buffalo Bill abducted Catherine to create a vest using her skin.
In the dark and confined oubliette where Catherine is heldcaptive, she assesses her surroundings. She has a sanitary bucket, a futon, and new clothes provided by Gumb. The walls of the oubliette are smooth and impossible to climb. Despite having a broken finger, Catherine is physically unharmed. Gumb illuminates the space and lowers down soapy water and moisturizer, instructing Catherine to wash herself. She complies with his orders. Catherine attempts to reach a crack in the cement wall and inadvertently dislodges part of a fingernail. Desperate for her freedom, she offers Gumb money and assistance from her mother. However, Gumb ignores her pleas and plunges her back into darkness. Catherine contemplates the significance of her hygiene and the dislodged fingernail, eventually realizing with horror that her kidnapper must be Buffalo Bill.
Clarice contacts Crawford from the orderlies' lounge to provide him with an update on her conversation with Lecter. She expresses the urgency of receiving the details of the fake offer they made to Lecter, emphasizing the need to prevent him from wasting their time. The FBI discovers that Kimberly, one of Buffalo Bill's victims, was from Detroit. It is revealed that Buffalo Bill only held his victims for three days before killing them. Crawford sends Clarice the specifics of the deal in a sealed package, which she takes to the corridor of cells. Mentally preparing herself for the interview, she prays for guidance from her parents.
Clarice returns to Lecter's cell, finding him examining a patent rejection. Barney interrupts their conversation to bring Clarice a desk. Clarice proceeds to inform Lecter about the details of the deal: he will be granted a room with a view in a high-security prison in New York, access to books, and a yearly excursion to Plum Island. Lecter requests to have access to Catherine's story as well. Engaging in another quid pro quo exchange, Lecter suggests that Buffalo Bill is attempting to construct a
new body using the skin of his victims as a means of escaping his own dissatisfaction with his identity. Lecter speculates that Buffalo Bill may have been rejected for sex reassignment surgery due to a criminal record and mental health issues. He reveals that hospitals utilize personality tests to determine if individuals are considered "true transsexuals." Lecter advises Clarice to cross-reference rejected surgery applicants with youth offenders and personality tests that reveal disturbing details.
Throughout their conversation, Lecter intermittently inquires about Clarice's life after her father's death,deducing that she lied about her father's occupation. Clarice shares that at the age of 10, she went to live with her mother's cousin on a horse and sheep ranch. She relished the sense of independence during her time there, until she discovered that the ranch earned income by slaughtering its animals, prompting her to run away. Lecter refuses to provide Clarice with further information until she makes progress with the case and leaves her with two questions for their next meeting. Clarice hands Lecter her casefile and exits the cell, unaware that Chilton is still in his office.
Barney and other attendants restrain Lecter as they clean his cell. Despite being unable to move, Lecter entertains himself with memories. He recalls his final therapy session with Raspail, during which Raspail mentioned Jame Gumb. Gumb, as a 12-year-old, killed his grandparents and was subsequently sent to a youth mental hospital. Raspail was acquainted with Gumb in San Francisco. Gumb's employer fired him for stealing a package containing butterfly cocoons from a curio shop. Gumb watched the butterflies emerge from their cocoons and felt a deep connection with them.
Later, Gumb beheaded Raspail's lover, Klaus, and fashioned an apron from his skin. Raspail mocked Gumb's lack of personality and believed the murder was Gumb's way of seeking acceptance. Lecter killed Raspail after hearing this story. Lecter plans to create new clues about Gumb's identity for Clarice using the casefile she left behind.
Barney rolls Lecter, still restrained, into a cell across from Chilton, who is sitting on Lecter's bed. Unknown to Clarice, Chilton had secretly placed a listening device under her desk, suspecting her involvement in Miggs's death. Chilton resents Lecter for speaking to Clarice after years of silence. He reveals the manipulative tactics employed by Clarice and Crawford, including their knowledge of the connection between Klaus and Buffalo Bill. Chilton informs Lecter that their deal with the Senator is a ruse to extract information before the police take over. Mocking Lecter, Chilton threatens him with a miserable life unless he cooperates.
While eavesdropping on Clarice, Chilton made a genuine deal with the Senator. As part of the agreement, Chilton gains exclusive rights to Catherine's story, and Lecter can only communicate publicly through Chilton. Lecter contemplates how he can manipulate the inexperienced Tennessee police officers. He agrees to the deal and provides false information, claiming that Buffalo Bill's name is Billy.Lecter offers to provide more information in Tennessee.
Crawford meets with Dr. Danielson at the Johns Hopkins Gender Identity Clinic in an attempt to obtain client information. Danielson refuses to violate doctor-patient confidentiality, as it could jeopardize the clinic's work to destigmatize transgender experiences. Crawford falsely attributes the rejected personality tests to an unnamed source, raising concerns for Danielson about the institution's reputation and potential bureaucratic implications.
Growing increasingly frustrated, Crawford shows Danielson a picture of a victim and threatens him with public notoriety. Crawford even suggests that he could jeopardize the clinic's government funding. Reluctantly, Danielson agrees to discuss the matter with Dr. Bloom and explore potential options. As Crawford leaves the clinic, he receives a call from the FBI director regarding Chilton and the Senator's deal. Despite his reservations, Crawford reluctantly agrees to let them take Lecter to Tennessee.
Chilton and the Tennessee troopers prepare to transport Lecter to Memphis. In the ambulance, Barney assists Lecter, still in restraints, in using the restroom, while Chilton intrudes on the scene. Lecter expresses gratitude to Barney for his care and asks him to bid farewell to Sammie. The troopers then secure Lecter as they roll him onto the plane. Barney shares his concerns about the troopers' ability to handle Lecter, but Chilton reassures him that he will be present. Chilton dismisses Barney, who returns to the hospital.
Crawford calls Clarice to inform her about Chilton's interference in the investigation. Internally, Clarice blames Chilton for Catherine's potential demise, feeling frustrated by his actions. She occupies herself by taking a shower, during which she reminisces about her mother and recalls a black and white crow that used to steal from the motel cleaning carts. Once dressed, Crawford arrives to pick her up.
As Clarice walks with Crawford to get coffee, she expresses her anger over Chilton's actions and suggests charging him with obstruction of justice. However, Crawford doubts that such charges would hold. He attempts to calm Clarice, advising her to visualize freezing her emotions in liquid nitrogen. Despite the setback, Crawford emphasizes the importance of focusing on the case and ensuring Catherine's safety. He plans to travel to Minnesota and Washington, while he wants Clarice to follow Lecter to Tennessee in hopes that he will request her presence. In the meantime, Clarice will investigate Catherine's apartment.
Clarice feels relieved to have a plan in motion. While Crawford buys coffee,she encounters Barney leaving the hospital. Clarice asks Barney to retrieve Lecter's drawings from his cell, and they engage in friendly banter. Barney expresses his doubts about the troopers' ability to handle Lecter and jokingly expresses his reluctance to care for Buffalo Bill once they catch him. They part ways on good terms.
Lecter arrives at the Memphis airport, where Senator Martin watches him disembark from the plane. Crawford calls the Senator, urging her to speak with Clarice before her interview with Lecter, but the Senator refuses. She assures Crawford that if Lecter's information isn't helpful, he will have full access to him. Chilton and the troopers secure Lecter in a nearby office, while the impatient Senator paces. Chilton removes Lecter's hockey mask dramatically, causing the Senator to question Chilton's intelligence.
Lecter begins offering information to the Senator, but Major Bachman of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation interrupts. Lecter retreats into his mind until the Senator dismisses everyone from the room. With his focus regained, Lecter asks a deeply personal question before returning to his task. He provides the false name "Billy Rubin" for Buffalo Bill, who is actually a former patient of his. Lecter gives an accurate physical description of "Billy" and links him to Klaus's murder, mentioning that the man had elephant ivory anthrax. The Senator arranges temporary accommodations for Lecter, including a phone and access to music.
Gumb sits in his dark basement wearing night vision goggles, observing his moths. The basement is a labyrinth of rooms from his past that he hasn't opened in years. While waiting for a moth to reach its full wingspan, Gumb surveys the room, taking note of the tools he uses for his crimes. He turns his attention back to the moth just in time to witness its wings forming the distinctive pattern of a human skull. Gumb leaves the room and gazes down at a sleeping Catherine in the oubliette. Through his goggles, he examines her skin and makes judgments about how it will fit into his garment. Gumb plans to kill her the next day, noting that unlike his previous victims, Catherine appears to have already been dieting.
Clarice arrives at Catherine's apartment in Memphis to investigate how Buffalo Bill selected and abducted her. She believes that Bill stalked Catherine and lured her into the parking lot. A young police officer allows Clarice entry into the apartment.She begins her search in the kitchen,
finding only pre-packaged diet food and a fake jewelry box hidden in the fridge. Although the Tennessee investigators thoroughly searched the bedrooms, Clarice decides to reexamine the closet and other furnishings.
In the hidden compartment of the jewelry box, Clarice discovers a sheet of LSD blotter paper and an envelope containing scandalous Polaroid pictures. She takes them as evidence just as the Senator and Paul Krendler from the Department of Justice enter the room. Both accuse Clarice of theft. Krendler permits the Senator to take the photos, but he warns Clarice to return to Quantico, threatening her career if she fails to comply.
Clarice drives to the old Memphis courthouse where Lecter is being held in a modular cell. News vans and Chilton's presence surround the building as Clarice arrives. Inside, Clarice claims that both Krendler and Chilton authorized her visit to Lecter. Concealing a gun under her blazer, she hands another gun to Sergeant Tate and is allowed to proceed with an escort. Two guards grant her access when she mentions her previous experience with Lecter, and she approaches his cell.
Clarice confronts Lecter, believing he is playing with the Senator and providing information solely to cause her pain. She suspects that Lecter hasn't actually met the killer. Still upset with Clarice's manipulation, Lecter reveals that she can identify Buffalo Bill with only the information in her casefile. However, he refuses to disclose more until she answers his two questions.
Clarice recalls a childhood memory of leaving the ranch with her horse, Hannah, after the sounds of slaughtered lambs woke her up. They went to Bozeman, where Clarice tried to secure a corral for the horse. Eventually, Clarice and Hannah stayed at the Bozeman orphanage, where Hannah passed away from natural causes. Clarice continues to have dreams about the lambs. Satisfied with the honesty of her answers, Lecter returns Clarice's casefile just as Chilton and Officer Pembry take her away. Clarice promises to update Lecter on her dreams before leaving for the airport.
Lecter arrives at the Memphis courthouse, where correctional officers Pembry and Boyle are waiting for him. The officers conduct a thorough search of Lecter, but they dismiss the metal detector alarm as his metal tooth fillings. Unbeknownst to them, Lecter has a homemade handcuff key hidden in his gums. After Clarice leaves, the officers restrain Lecter using simple handcuffs duringhis lunchtime. Lecter expresses gratitude for their courtesy.
Lecter feigns indigestion and hides behind the toilet's paper screen. He retrieves the handcuff key he made over months in the Baltimore hospital from his gums and keeps it hidden in his hand. Calling Officer Pembry to take his tray away, Lecter secretly frees himself from the handcuffs. When Boyle bends down to pick up a napkin, Lecter handcuffs him to the table. He subdues Pembry, biting the officer's face in the process. Lecter incapacitates Boyle by using mace and beats him to death. He kills Pembry with a single strike to the back of the head. Lecter finds their guns, ammunition, and a pocketknife.
In the courthouse lobby, Sergeant Tate instructs custodian Sweeney to check on the unresponsive Pembry and Boyle. As Sweeney tries to bring the elevator down from the fifth floor, gunshots are heard from above. The elevator moves to the third floor, indicating Lecter's escape. Tate orders the police to secure the outside doors and assembles a group to investigate. They find an open elevator on the third floor but nothing on the fourth. Tate and his team continue upwards.
On the fifth floor, the policemen discover two bodies, initially assuming they are Pembry and Boyle. Officer Jacobs confirms Boyle's death, while Tate realizes that Pembry, disguised as Lecter, is still alive. Tate coordinates with a SWAT team and paramedics, who transport Boyle and the disguised Lecter to ambulances. Tate and the remaining police secure the upper floors before descending.
Blood drops fall from the elevator ceiling onto Officer Jacobs. Tate holds the elevator while two SWAT members inspect the elevator car from above. They spot a motionless man with a gun on the elevator roof.
Despite throwing a stun grenade, the man remains still. The SWAT members open the hatch from inside and discover the supposed body of Lecter, assuming he is dead. However, an officer rushes forward and identifies the body as Officer Pembry.
In the ambulance, Lecter, disguised behind his injuries, manages to slip out of the gurney's restraints. When the attendant turns around, Lecter strikes him on the head with a gun. He takes control of the ambulance and drives towards the Memphis International Airport.
Clarice visits Crawford at his home, where Chilton blames her for Lecter's escape, suggesting that she gave him something to loosen the handcuffs. Clarice denies this, and Crawford vouchesfor her, explaining how Lecter escaped and disguised himself using part of Pembry's face and Boyle's skin. The paramedics unknowingly brought the disguised Lecter to the ambulance. Clarice still believes there is truth in the information Lecter provided.
Crawford, on forced compassionate leave, hands over control of the investigation to a new task force. Krendler has filed a request for Clarice's expulsion, but Crawford promises to support her during the hearing. He encourages Clarice to return to school to avoid being recycled through the system if she misses more classes. As her final task, Clarice is allowed to follow up at the Smithsonian while the task force focuses on identifying Billy Rubin and Klaus. Police find the abandoned ambulance with the deceased attendants at the airport. Clarice expresses sympathy for Jack and Bella before leaving.
Clarice meets Pilcher at the moth cages in the Smithsonian's Insect Zoo. Pilcher and Roden identified the moth found in Klaus's head as the Death's-Head Moth. Pilcher shows Clarice a live Death's-Head Moth, kept behind safety bars. This moth is from Malaysia and has a skull pattern on
its black wings. It possesses a proboscis for feeding and is known to fight when threatened. The moth's power frightens Clarice. Pilcher tries to share stories from his field studies, but Clarice is in a hurry. She promises to get to know him better later and leaves with a file on the moth. Meanwhile, inside the cage, the Death's-Head Moth punctures a piece of honeycomb and feeds on the honey.
Catherine has a nightmare and wakes up to the sound of Gumb sewing. She devises a plan to trick her captor using her sexuality when she hears him leave the house. Precious, the dog, sneaks into the basement, giving Catherine an opportunity to try to capture the dog. She uses her sanitary bucket to create a trap and throws it upward at the opening of the oubliette. The bucket lands on the wooden cover, and Catherine calls out to get the dog's attention. Precious approaches the sound, but in the struggle to bring the bucket down, the dog escapes from the trap. Precious returns upstairs, and Catherine sobs at her failure.
At home, Crawford continues working on the Buffalo Bill case. Investigators trace Lecter's handcuff key to the Baltimore hospital and find a note left in the toilet. The note plays on Chilton's name andthe chemical compound bilirubin, which gives human bile and feces their color and is also the color of Chilton's hair. Chilton was seen gloating on the news and was out to dinner when Lecter escaped. Burroughs confirms that Lecter tricked the Senator, but Crawford believes that the information Lecter gave to Clarice was genuine. Burroughs advises Crawford to tighten his security in case Lecter comes after him.
Lecter checks into the Marcus Hotel in St. Louis using the name Lloyd Wyman. He had surprised and killed the real Wyman at the Memphis Airport, stealing his car. Choosing the Marcus Hotel because of its
proximity to the St. Louis hospital specializing in craniofacial surgery, Lecter believes his facial bandages won't attract attention. In his hotel room, he relaxes with a drink and meal, pacing the spacious suite and observing the view from the window. Lecter plans to alter his appearance but is in no rush to begin.
Clarice returns to her dorm at the Academy, where Ardelia greets her and prepares a cup of tea. Ardelia shares updates on her recent classes and informs Clarice that Brigham had stopped by looking for her, offering to open the firing range for make-up practice. Brigham wants Clarice to participate in an interservice competition and expresses confidence in her ability to win her hearing against Krendler. Ardelia quizzes Clarice and promises to help her study for their upcoming exam. She praises Clarice for her excellent work on the Buffalo Bill case and engages in casual conversation to help ease Clarice's mind.
During the night, Crawford wakes up to Bella's labored breathing. He holds her hand and listens as her heart stops. Crawford tenderly cradles her, expressing his love, and prays that she will be reunited with her family. He dresses Bella in her favorite bedclothes, reminiscing about their most intimate moments together and recalling Bella's passion for gardening. Overwhelmed with grief, Crawford feels unable to leave the room and instead gazes out of the window.
Gumb sits in his bedroom with Precious, watching a recorded VHS tape that is part of his ritual before killing. The tape features the 1948 Miss Sacramento competition, where Gumb's mother was a contestant. He becomes captivated by her beauty and adjusts the tape to replay her smile multiple times. The tape then shows a late-night broadcast of naked women swimming and riding a waterslide, and Gumb suspects that one of them might be his mother. Ignoring Catherine's screams,
Gumb descends into his workroom and meticulously prepares the solutions for stretching and tanning Catherine's skin. Connected to the workroom is Gumb's sewing studio, filled with mannequins wearing leather and muslin garments, tables with wigs and cosmetics, sewing machines, and an armoire containing his "Special Things." Gumb, who learned to sew in a mental health hospital, tests his design for the skin garment on muslin, making adjustments and trying on wigs and accessories. Despite his eagerness, Gumb decides to wait until morning to begin his work, so as to avoid any mistakes.
Clarice wakes up from a nightmare about screaming lambs, and her mind starts racing. She still feels stung by the Senator calling her a thief, as she always believed that thieves were the lowest type of criminals. Clarice contemplates her genealogy and her fear of being tacky but remains determined to prove herself. She begins thinking about the victims and gets out of bed in frustration. Taking her casefile, she goes to the laundry room to read in private. Clarice discovers a note from Lecter questioning the randomness of the abduction sites. When she calls the hotline, Burroughs says he will pass the information along but doubts anyone will be interested. Clarice learns that the first victim, Fredrica Bimmel, was found after the second victim because her body was weighed down. She hypothesizes that Buffalo Bill knew Bimmel and killed her spontaneously, dumping the next victim to divert suspicion from Belvedere. Clarice calls the hotline again, but Burroughs informs her that investigators have already looked at Belvedere, so there won't be a rush to return to Ohio. He also tells her about Bella's death and a fundraiser in her name. Thinking about her parents, Clarice breaks down in tears.
Clarice stops Crawford outside a funeral home and asks him to send her to Ohio because her perspective as a woman could uncover new information. She is willing to be recycled in the Academy, and Crawford gives her money for the trip. Seeing the resemblance between Clarice and Bella, Crawford sobs in the street. Jeff stays in an alley, knowing that
Crawford wouldn't want anyone to see him vulnerable.
Gumb returns from shopping with the final supplies needed to kill Catherine. He lays out knives and prepares tanks of solution, carefullyconsidering how to kill her while keeping her body unblemished. Gumb is aware of the different kinds of damage that hanging and shooting can cause to the skin and scalp. He decides not to play games with Catherine like he did with his previous victims but plans to lure her out of the oubliette with the promise of a shower. Excitedly, Gumb changes into his robe and calls for Precious to watch the VHS tape. Unable to find the dog, he goes down to the basement where Catherine yells that Precious is with her and injured. She threatens to kill the dog unless Gumb brings her a telephone. Gumb attempts to shoot Catherine, but she uses Precious as a shield. Frustrated, Gumb stomps away upstairs while Catherine crumples to the floor, holding onto the warm dog.
In Belvedere, Ohio, Clarice stands near the creek on the Bimmel property, observing feathers swirling in the water. She urges herself not to waste the time she bargained her career for. Clarice meets Gustav Bimmel, Fredrica's father, who reveals that Fredrica had gone to Columbus for an interview on the night she disappeared. Gustav is upset about having to repeat his story, but he agrees to let Clarice see Fredrica's belongings.
Crawford sits in his Washington office, making calls to various departments for case updates. John Golby, the new taskforce lead, expresses his sympathy to Crawford. Crawford reminisces about meeting Bella in Italy and how the boatmen referred to her as Bella because of her beauty. He dismisses Chilton's request for protective custody and reflects on his forced retirement from the FBI. Dr. Danielson contacts
Crawford with information about a rejected patient who matches the criteria on Crawford's list. The patient, using the alias John Grant, passed intelligence tests but failed personality tests and background checks. His real name is Jame Gumb, and he is wanted by the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania police for assaulting two gay men. Crawford realizes that the file came from Lecter.
Gustav Bimmel, the father of Buffalo Bill's first victim, Frederica, guides Clarice through his house and introduces her to his new wife. Gustav becomes angry when Clarice asks about Frederica's mother and leaves her when they reach Frederica's bedroom. Clarice prepares herself mentally before entering the room, which is stale from disuse and filled with budget decor. She examines Frederica's yearbook and notices her involvement in variousclubs and her size and plain appearance. Clarice looks at the diet books and magazines scattered around the room, realizing that Buffalo Bill could have preyed on Frederica's loneliness and low self-esteem. Clarice hypothesizes that Buffalo Bill stalks specialty size clothing stores while disguised as a woman, waiting for the right-sized girl. Intrusive images of Kimberly at the funeral home fill Clarice's mind, and she realizes that the triangles on Kimberly's back were sewing pattern pieces. She deduces that Buffalo Bill is using the girls' skin as fabric, as Lecter had suggested. Clarice intends to call Crawford with her findings, but she receives a phone call instead.
On the phone, Burroughs updates Clarice on Buffalo Bill's identity. Crawford and the Hostage Rescue Team are en route to Calumet, Illinois, where Jame Gumb sent an illegal shipment of moths under an alias. The FBI has learned about Gumb's past offenses and plans to surprise him at his home, hoping to find Catherine alive. Clarice is too far away to join them and reluctantly stays in Ohio to interview people acquainted with Frederica Bimmel. Clarice shares her new theories with Burroughs, and he offers support for her upcoming hearing. Outside, Clarice reflects on Frederica's life in her small town. She feels guilty for being upset and believes her family's bad luck has caught up with her. However, Clarice
pushes away the negative thoughts and focuses on what she has learned during the investigation. She asks Gustav Bimmel a few final questions about Frederica's travel habits and friendships. Bimmel directs Clarice to Frederica's friend Sarah Hubka, mentioning that Frederica spent her free time working.
At the Franklin Insurance Agency in Belvedere, Clarice interviews Stacy Hubka about Frederica. Initially, Stacy dismissed Frederica's disappearance, but as time passed, she began to feel frightened. Frederica's only connection to the Chicago area was a school trip, and Stacy doesn't believe she would have run off with someone. Stacy is certain that Frederica didn't have a secret friend, but Clarice wonders if Frederica hid a relationship to avoid teasing. Stacy provides details about Frederica's work history and her sewing work for Mrs. Lippman. Clarice presses for more information, and Stacy suggests speaking to others who might know better. She offers to provide Clarice with a list of stores and the contact information for Mrs. Burdine and Mrs. Lippman. Stacy accompanied Frederica to plus-sized stores but nevernoticed any men in drag watching them. After Stacy leaves the cubicle, Clarice calls Washington for updates from Calumet.
The plane carrying the Hostage Rescue Team descends toward Illinois. The team leader briefs the team members on their mission. The DEA provides two civilian vans for them to use at Gumb's two addresses. The first approach will be made by two undercover men, while the rest of the team will be armed. The plane lands in a field near the vans, and the DEA commander hands the team leader a sledgehammer, welcoming them to Chicago.
Gumb anxiously watches his VHS tape, contemplating how to free Precious from the oubliette. He sneaks into the basement, armed with
his revolver and night vision goggles. He considers shooting the sleeping Catherine but is interrupted when Precious wakes up. Gumb tries to ignore the sound of the doorbell but eventually opens the back door for Clarice. Clarice questions Gumb, using the alias Jack Gordon, about Mrs. Lipmann and Fredrica. Gumb invites Clarice inside as he pretends to search for information. As Gumb rummages through a desk, a Death's-Head Moth crawls up his back. Realizing that she is in Buffalo Bill's house, Clarice attempts to apprehend him without violence, but he retreats into the basement. Clarice follows and discovers Catherine trapped in the oubliette. Catherine begs Clarice to free her, but Clarice must secure the basement first. She navigates through the workroom and down the corridor toward the sewing studio, unaware of Gumb's presence. In the bathroom, she finds a hoist hanging above a preserved corpse. Suddenly, Gumb cuts the power, plunging the basement into darkness. Overcoming her fear, Clarice cautiously proceeds down the corridor towards the workroom, while Gumb watches her through his night vision goggles. He fires his revolver, and Clarice returns fire four times. Both of them are momentarily stunned, but Clarice is unharmed while Gumb sustains a chest wound. Gasping for breath, Gumb dies as a moth descends upon him. Clarice illuminates the basement, secures the guns, and calls for backup. The fire department arrives and rescues Catherine and Precious from the oubliette.
Ardelia, Jeff, and Crawford welcome Clarice at the Washington airport upon her return from Ohio. In the van to Quantico, Ardelia and Clarice celebrate with a mix of Coke and whiskey. During Clarice's flight, Catherine underwent examinations, and Krendler revoked his memo against Clarice. TheFBI cancels Clarice's hearing, and she must now focus on studying for makeup exams. Back at the dorm, Ardelia stays awake to ensure Clarice gets some sleep. Clarice heads to the laundry room, using the hum of the machines to lull herself to sleep.
Crawford arrives at Quantico and meets Clarice in his office to watch the news. The newscast depicts Gumb's "Dungeon of Horrors" and shows
still images of the basement, as well as a video of Catherine being taken to the ambulance. Senator Martin reports on Catherine's condition from Bethesda. Clarice confirms the accuracy of her report about finding Gumb at Mrs. Lipmann's address. The Senator, Catherine, and Krendler all express their desire to meet with Clarice, and Crawford suggests that Clarice tries to get on the Senator's good side. Lecter is still wanted, but Clarice doesn't believe he will come after her. Crawford reassures Clarice that both he and her father are proud of her.
In the weeks following Gumb's death, news outlets delve into his background. Gumb's mother was pregnant with him during the Miss Sacramento beauty competition and gave him up for foster care when she became an alcoholic. He was taken in by his grandparents at the age of 10 but ended up killing them two years later. Gumb learned sewing skills while in a youth mental hospital, which he later used in his tailoring jobs. Unheard tapes from Lecter's sessions with Raspail reveal Raspail's encounters with Gumb and how Gumb killed Klaus. Gumb had a history of flaying people, and the locked rooms in his basement concealed gruesome scenes of posed corpses preserved with lime. Gumb inherited the house from the late Mrs. Lipmann and worked at Mr. Hide's leather goods in Calumet before quitting upon receiving his inheritance. Gumb met Fredrica at Mrs. Lipmann's house, and they began a secret relationship. He used his connections from Mr. Hide to travel for work while scouting for potential victims. Crawford believes that if Chilton hadn't intervened, Lecter would have revealed Gumb's identity to Clarice. Some tabloids spread false accusations that Clarice made sexual advances for information based on Chilton's tape of her interview, while others portray a more positive image by sharing childhood photos. Clarice keeps a picture of Hannah the horse from an article in her wallet.
During a break from training for her physical education exam, Clarice and Ardeliahave a conversation. Ardelia learns that Pilcher and his sister have invited Clarice to stay at their shared home on the Chesapeake Bay, and Clarice has accepted the offer.
Lecter resides in the Marcus Hotel, enjoying music, ordering room service, and writing his final letters. He plans to renew his passport photos before leaving for Rio de Janeiro. Lecter has been altering his appearance using silicone and forged prescription medication, waiting for further changes once he reaches South America. He writes a kind note to Barney along with a gift and sends a threatening letter to Chilton. In his letter to Clarice, he asks her to place an advertisement in multiple newspapers answering his question about her lamb dreams. Lecter hints that the lambs may have stopped screaming, but only temporarily. He shares details about the stars without revealing his exact location. Meanwhile, Clarice peacefully sleeps next to Pilcher.