Elevator to the Gallows

Julien Tavernier climbs the side of the building to Simon's office and shoots him with his own gun, then stages the body as a suicide. He exits the scene with a secretary and a security guard to provide alibis, hoping to seal the crime as a lone act. The act marks the beginning of a carefully staged cover story.

Realizing he left his climbing rope on the balcony, Julien hurries back into the building to retrieve it. He boards the elevator just before the power is shut off for the weekend, trapping him between floors. The elevator becomes a claustrophobic snare that heightens the drama of the plan failing.

Louis and Véronique steal Julien's running car and drive through the city, passing Florence who is waiting for Julien at a nearby café. The sight of Véronique hints that Julien may have abandoned their plan. The theft injects a new thread of pursuit into the night.

The sight of Véronique convinces Florence that Julien has betrayed their plan, and she wanders the streets of Paris in search of him. She moves from the café to the nightclubs, hoping for a glimpse of Julien and closure.

Louis and Véronique follow Horst and Frieda Bencker to a motel, where Frieda uses Julien's camera to photograph the two couples, finishing the roll. Véronique later drops the film at the motel's photo lab, setting the stage for future revelations.

After the Benckers go to bed, Horst catches Louis attempting to steal their Mercedes, and Louis empties Julien's pistol into them, killing Horst and Frieda. The couple then returns to Véronique's apartment in Paris, where she persuades Louis to attempt suicide with phenobarbital.

The police discover the Benckers' bodies at the hotel, and Julien's car, gun, and raincoat are found nearby. They also search Julien's office, escorted by the security guard, and uncover Simon's body, linking the crimes to Julien Tavernier.

When the power is restored, Julien escapes the elevator and heads to a cafe, where he is arrested. He is unaware that his image has appeared in the morning newspapers as a murder suspect, complicating his defense.

Julien is charged with the murder of the Benckers, as authorities piece together the staged suicide and the earlier killing of Simon. He struggles to convince investigators that he was trapped in the elevator rather than the killer.

Florence obtains Véronique's address from a florist and finds Véronique and Louis still alive. She confronts the drowsy couple, accusing them of murdering the Benckers, and calls the police with an anonymous tip.

Louis believes he has gotten away when he sees Julien's picture in the papers. Véronique reminds him of the roll of film, and they hurry to the motel's photo lab to retrieve it before more evidence surfaces.

Louis is arrested on the spot at the motel's photo lab. Inside the police station, Commissaire Cherrier shows Florence the developed photos that link everyone to the crimes, and Florence remarks that she did it for love while hoping to be reunited with Julien.