Sensual scenes unfold between a couple, a man and a woman, as they share an intimate moment in the shower. The tranquility is shattered when he, Robbie L. McDermott, suddenly turns aggressive towards her.
The narrative then shifts to a couple making love in bed, where the woman reflects on the earlier shower incident. After their encounter, she appears unfulfilled, despite the romantic ambiance provided by the radio.
Introducing the woman, Kate Miller, portrayed by Angie Dickinson, she confronts her son, Peter "Pete" Miller, played by Keith Gordon. Pete expresses his disinterest in accompanying her to the museum, choosing instead to work on his advanced computer project capable of counting binary numbers up to 20 digits. It becomes evident that Mike, Kate's partner, does not fulfill the role of Pete's biological father.
Kate heads to her therapist, Doctor Robert Elliott, played by Michael Caine, who amusingly takes on receptionist duties during Mary’s absence. As they converse, Kate vents her frustrations about her mother's unexpected visit from Florida for her upcoming birthday and her discontent with Mike's abilities in the bedroom. Doctor Elliott suggests she confront Mike about her feelings, but the conversation takes a flirtatious turn when Kate questions Elliott about her attractiveness, to which he admits but clarifies his commitment to his marriage.
Later, while visiting the museum, Kate’s attention is captured by a mysterious man. She leaves him a glove and they engage in a cat-and-mouse game throughout the museum. Just when she thinks he’s not interested, he surprises her, reclaiming the glove and leading her to an escapade in a taxi. Their electrifying chemistry culminates in a passionate encounter, watched by a bemused taxi driver.
However, the romantic bubble bursts as Kate discovers alarming documents indicating the man is infected with a sexually transmitted disease, prompting her to flee. In her haste, she leaves behind her wedding ring, necessitating a return to his apartment. Unfortunately, she is ambushed and stabbed by a mysterious woman with a wig and sunglasses, leaving her fighting for her life.
Meanwhile, a frantic scene in the elevator reveals that while Kate strives to reach out for help, a separate couple discusses business matters, oblivious to her distress. When they discover Kate bloodied but alive, the tension escalates. In an ironic twist, the cleaning lady, played by Amalie Collier, gets involved as chaos unfolds, culminating in a harrowing encounter for Kate.
Elliott becomes increasingly entangled in the investigation as Detective Marino (played by Dennis Franz) interrogates him. Marino, skeptical of everyone’s motives, delves deeper into the events surrounding Kate's murder attempt, while Pete finds himself unexpectedly pulled into the web of deceit.
The narrative intertwines Liz, portrayed by Nancy Allen, who finds herself in precarious situations as she navigates life as a prostitute while trying to escape the looming threat of the man stalking her, eventually leading to Pete coming to her rescue using his inventive anti-rape spray.
As the story unravels, it’s revealed that Elliott has a dual identity—he is Bobbi, a patient yearning for a sex change, who turns murderous whenever he feels attraction towards women. His conflicted psyche leads to tragic consequences as those around him become entangled in his dark secrets.
Towards the climax, Liz and Pete delve deeper into understanding the layers of Elliott's disturbing personality, even as Liz faces her own terrifying confrontation with the blonde assailant. The thrilling tension unfolds as they grapple with themes of identity, the complexity of relationships, and the essence of survival amidst chaos.
In a chilling conclusion, the story leaves viewers pondering the thin line between sanity and madness, with Liz awakened from her nightmare by Pete, who seeks to soothe her fears as they navigate the shadows of a treacherous reality.
FADE TO BLACK
