Deadline at Dawn

Sleepy Parsons, a blind piano player and ex-husband, arrives at Edna Bartelli's apartment to collect the money she owes him. Edna checks her purse and finds it missing, instantly blaming a U.S. Navy sailor for the theft. The tense confrontation sets the noir mood and foreshadows the tangled motives at play.

Nearby a New York City newsstand, Alex Winkley awakens with a hazy memory of the previous night and discovers cash in his pocket. He learns he has seven hours left before he must depart for duty, dragging him into a murky situation he barely understands. The money and his uncertain past push him toward Edna's circle and the murder that follows.

Alex approaches June Goffe at a nightclub and they share a dance, forging a tense but intimate connection. She takes him to her apartment, where the money's origin comes to light as Alex reveals he stole the funds after fixing Edna's radio. June's suspicion grows, and the pair realizes they are entangled in something much larger than a simple theft.

June urges Alex to return the money, but their plans are derailed when they arrive at Edna's apartment to find her murdered. The shock shifts the focus from financial malice to a full-blown investigation for a killer. June quickly suspects Alex, though he pleads his innocence as the hunt begins.

With a murder case now in full swing, June and Alex decide to retrace Edna's killer's steps to identify a probable route and motive. They catalog potential leads and question those connected to Edna's life, hoping to catch a break before the trail grows cold. The city becomes a labyrinth as they chase down rumors and alibis.

The investigators learn that hours earlier a blonde woman with a limp rushed into a cab and disappeared into the city. This fleeting sighting hints at a crucial witness who could tie Edna's death to someone in her social circle. The fragmentary clue directs their attention to specific suspects and locations.

A cab driver recalls picking up the blonde and driving her downtown, providing a possible route for the killer's movements. The detail narrows the investigative scope to particular neighborhoods and times. Alex and June weigh this lead as they map Edna's final hours.

Alex pursues a distraught man whose rush to depart is linked to a choking cat, a curious clue that interrupts the pursuit. He orders a taxi back toward Edna's building to regroup and reassess. The bizarre lead complicates the case while keeping the momentum alive.

June travels to Helen Robinson's apartment and questions Helen about her whereabouts the night before. An argument between Helen and her husband Jerry adds new tensions and possible alibis to the case. The conversation widens the field of suspects and deepens the mystery.

Back at Edna's place, Gus Hoffman, a taxi driver, joins the investigation and they discover Edna's letters and a bad check signed by Lester Brady. The letters reveal Edna's blackmail scheme against past lovers, adding motive and a tangle of relationships. The findings broaden the scope of who might have wanted Edna silenced.

Mrs. Raymond walks into Edna's apartment and is stunned to learn that Edna is dead. She bolts in alarm, and her arrival introduces another volatile thread to the unfolding case. The scene heightens the tension and suggests that more secrets are waiting to be uncovered.

Alex arrives at Lester Brady's apartment and is confronted by Edna's brother Val, who believes Alex is responsible. The three men travel to Edna's apartment together, where Val assaults Alex until Lester intervenes. The confrontation tightens the web of relationships surrounding Edna's murder.

June and Gus return to Sleepy Parsons's nightclub and use a white carnation as a clue to locate Sleepy. June informs Sleepy of the murder, and Val questions Sleepy who dies of a heart attack shortly after. The development intensifies the investigation and pushes the plot toward the police.

Police involvement escalates as confessions surface. Jerry Robinson's claim is disproven, and Gus unexpectedly confesses to killing Edna to protect his daughter's marriage. He explains the motive and pleads for Alex's release, sealing the guilt on him and bringing the case toward closure.

Before heading out for naval duty, Alex shares a final kiss with June, signaling a fragile romance amidst the noir turmoil. The case resolves with the killer identified and justice moving forward, even as both man and city return to their separate paths. The film closes on a note of quiet hope between two survivors.