He recognized that the ultimate in horror was humanity itself ("I also have always liked the monster-within idea." Kittridge viewed Phelps on the wristwatch and greeted him: "Good morning, Mr.Phelps." The two were stunned by the devious disclosure - and Phelps threatened to kill Ethan.When Claire again advised: "Don""t, Jim," he shot and killed her.Phelps knocked Ethan down and escaped through a ceiling trap door leading to the train""s roof, where he awaited helicopter pickup from his other traitorous partner - Krieger.In the 1974 Oscar competition,The Conversationcompeted for Best Picture with Coppola""s own sequelThe Godfather, Part II (1974).[Cain""sfirstinfamous novel was a 1934 best-seller hat was also staged in 1936 and made into a film in both 1946 and 1981 - Tay Garnett""sThe Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)with John Garfield and Lana Turner, and Bob Rafelson""sThe Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)with Jack Nicholson and Jessica Lange.