Cause for Alarm!

Ellen works as a nurse at a naval hospital during World War II. She meets and falls for George Jones, a pilot, after being involved with Ranney Grahame. She marries George and, after the war, the couple moves to a suburban Los Angeles home.

Years after the war, Ellen and George settle into a quiet suburban life in Los Angeles. George proves selfish, petty, and domineering, and the couple remains childless. Ellen still loves him, but the marriage grows hollow.

George's health declines with heart problems and he becomes bedridden during a heat wave. Ellen tends to him tirelessly, with occasional help from Ranney, who visits as George's physician. As his condition worsens, George's grip on reality seems to slip.

George grows paranoid that Ellen is having an affair with Ranney. He writes a letter to the district attorney accusing them of conspiring to murder him and gives the letter to Ellen to mail. Ellen is unaware of the full weight of what she is carrying.

Ellen hands the incriminating letter to the postman, thinking it is routine insurance correspondence. She continues with household tasks, unaware that the letter's contents could ruin her. The misinterpretation sets the plot in motion.

That night, George brandishes a gun and declares he will shoot to frame Ellen for murder. He collapses in bed before he can fire, leaving Ellen terrified and facing a potential crime scene. The event shifts the danger from suspicion to a possible real accusation.

Realizing the letter could still convict her, Ellen races to reclaim it from the postal system. She faces bureaucratic obstacles on the way to the post office and, as time runs out, the stakes feel increasingly dire. The ordeal heightens her sense of isolation.

Aunt Clara arrives unannounced, pressing into the home and threatening to uncover the dead man. Ellen manages to keep Clara away from George's bedroom and the body, persuading her to leave for the moment. Clara's appearance adds to the maze of stress Ellen faces.

A notary comes for an appointment with George, but Ellen convinces him that her husband is too ill to meet visitors. She dismisses the notary to delay any formal inquiries, which helps her manage the crisis for a little longer. The delay keeps suspicion from concentrating too soon.

At the post office, the supervisor initially shows sympathy but ultimately proceeds to send the letter despite Ellen's distress. Ellen's frantic pleas fail to stop the processing, and the letter goes out, sealing her fate. The moment exposes the power of bureaucratic momentum over personal pleas.

Ranney arrives to check on George and calm Ellen. He surveys the scene—a dead George, the bullet hole in the floor, and the gun in the dresser—and allows Ellen to tell her story. His presence provides a steady, professional perspective as the truth begins to surface.

When the postman returns the letter due to insufficient postage, Ellen experiences a wave of relief. Ranney tears up the letter and burns the pieces, effectively erasing the evidence. They share a quiet, uneasy relief, avoiding an immediate police inquiry for Ellen.