Bad Ronald

After Ronald is rejected by Laurie, he returns home and accidentally kills Carol by her head striking a concrete block. He buries the body and confesses to his mother. To avoid police suspicion, they wallpaper the door frame to the downstairs bathroom and convert the space into a hidden living quarters so Ronald can hide until the incident blows over.

Mrs. Wilby tells the police that Ronald ran away, hoping to avoid trouble. She worries about neighbors' gossip and does what she can to keep the incident quiet. Ronald remains hidden in the concealed space, waiting for the heat to cool.

Ronald's mother undergoes gallbladder surgery and dies unexpectedly during the procedure. With her gone, Ronald loses his protector and begins retreating into a fantasy world where a prince and a princess fight an evil duke. The dream life becomes a coping mechanism to handle his changing life.

The house is sold to the Wood family: mother, father, and three daughters Babs, Althea, and Ellen. Ronald's hunger for food and for human contact grows as he notices the new occupants and the odd noises around the house. The Woods become the center of his fantasy world.

Babs is identified with Ronald's princess and she becomes central to his fantasies. Ronald sees himself as the prince who must reclaim his princess and restore happiness. Duane Matthews, Ellen's boyfriend, is cast as the evil duke threatening their family.

Mrs. Schumacher sees Ronald in the Wood house and suffers a heart attack from the shock. Ronald, fearing blame, buries her body as he did with Carol.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood plan to go out of town for a couple of days, leaving the three daughters alone in the house. Ronald uses this opportunity to confront Babs and press her as his princess. Babs flees to Mrs. Schumacher's house next door, unaware of the neighbor's death.

Ronald locks Babs in the basement and forges a note claiming she has run away, to be found by her sisters. He keeps her hidden while the Woods are away. Babs remains isolated from help as Ronald tightens his control.

Ronald attacks Duane when he is alone in the house, knocks him out, binds and gags him, and hides him in his concealed living space behind the walls.

Police suspect something is wrong and advise Ellen and Althea to check into a hotel, but they refuse to leave. The sisters begin to realize something is terribly wrong inside the house.

Althea notices one of Ronald's peepholes and sees Ronald's eye staring back at her. Ronald then breaks through the wall into the living quarters, prompting screams.

The police rush back as Ronald tries to flee, crying out for his mother. Babs escapes from Schumacher's basement and is found; Duane is found in the living space, shaken but alive.