Plot: In 1928, in Iverstown, heiress Martha Ivers (Barbara Stanwyck) is caught by the Police for the fourth time trying to runaway from home with her friend Sam Masterson (Van Heflin). She hates her aunt Mrs. Ivers (Dame Judith Anderson). While in her room with her tutor's son Walter O'Neil (Kirk Douglas), Sam shows up. A heavy storm causes the power to turn off. Martha asks Sam to bring her cat back to the room. When Sam is trying to catch the cat in the dark, her aunt comes to the staircase and Sam hides himself. Mrs. Ivers hits the cat with her cane. Martha takes the cane to stop her aunt and strikes her, causing Mrs. Ivers to tumble down the stairs to her death. Martha lies to Mr. O'Neil and blames an intruder for killing her aunt and Walter confirms the lie. Eighteen years later, Sam is driving outside Iverstown, he does not pay attention in a curve and hits his car into a post. He brings his car to a body shop in the industrial town, and while waiting for the repair, he meets the gorgeous Toni Marachek (Lizabeth Scott). The next morning, Toni is arrested for violation of probation, so Sam decides to go to Walter O'Neil, now the District Attorney and married to the wealthy Martha Ivers, to ask him to release Toni. When Walter sees Sam, he believes Sam wants to blackmail Martha and him, and his misunderstanding leads the former friends to tragic revelations about the fatal night and discloses dirty secrets about the couple Martha and Walter.
Alternative Plot: Childhood friends Martha, Walter, and Sam share a terrible secret. Over time, Martha and Walter have married. She is a cold businesswoman; he is the district attorney. But Sam's return after years of absence deeply disturbs the formidable couple.
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