Double Door

In 1910 Manhattan, Victoria Van Brett rules with an iron fist, keeping her half-sister Caroline isolated and under constant control. The palatial mansion was built by their late industrialist father, and Victoria oversees every aspect of the household and Caroline's life.

Rip comes home to marry Anne Darrow, the nurse who saved his life. Victoria views Anne as a social climber and secretly has Rip's name removed from the will on the wedding day, while sabotaging the ceremony by tampering with the organ as Anne walks down the aisle.

While Rip and Anne begin their honeymoon, Victoria forces Caroline to take her side and threatens to lock Caroline away in a soundproof vault where she would suffocate. She demands that Rip and Anne return to manage the affairs of the estate, enraging her when they plan to move out on their own.

Rip recounts childhood memories of Victoria's abusive behavior toward him after their father died, revealing the long history of fear and control in the family dynamics. The revelations help explain the hostility that underpins their current conflicts.

During a dinner party, Victoria accuses Anne of having an affair with the family doctor, John Lucas, turning suspicion toward her. In response, Anne declares she is leaving the mansion.

Victoria offers to send Anne away with heirloom pearls she had previously denied her on the wedding day. The gesture is framed as a way to end Anne's presence, further binding Anne to Victoria's control.

Anne is lured by Victoria into the mansion's soundproof vault, and Victoria seals the door behind her. The act traps Anne inside as the family hides the truth, while Caroline remains in her room unaware of the immediate danger.

Caroline hears Anne's initial scream before the vault closes and rushes to the room, but Victoria insists that Caroline was having a nightmare. Anne's suitcase sits on the floor, hinting at a planned departure.

Rip and attorney Mortimer search for the missing Anne, while Victoria insists she left to be with John Lucas. The men eventually locate the vault and rescue Anne.

Caroline finally defies Victoria by telling her she is leaving with Rip and Anne. Victoria tries to lure Caroline into the vault, but Caroline refuses and departs with them.

Mortimer reverts the family will back to Rip, and he uses the threat of reporting Victoria for attempted murder to force her to sign. Mortimer leaves, securing the estate's future for Rip.

After Mortimer's departure, Victoria realizes the pearls are forgotten in the vault. She goes to retrieve them, but the vault door closes behind her and seals her doom.