Female on the Beach

An evening scene ends with Eloise bursting onto the patio and shouting Drummy's name before she screams and seemingly falls to her death. Her body is later seen sprawled on the sand with broken glass beside it, leaving the house bathed in mystery and fear. The dramatic moment establishes the deadly tension surrounding the house and its occupants.

The next day, police examine the area, measuring a body print on the beach and noting the broken glass. A boat is found docked at the shore, and a blonde woman is seen removing clothing from the railing. Mrs. Lynn Markham arrives as the new tenant, and realtor Amy Rawlinson gives her a tour while hinting Eloise's departure and the possibility of selling the house.

Lt. Galley sits with Lynn and discusses Eloise Crandall's death, noting rumors of suicide but suggesting there may be more to the story. He details Eloise's background, including her gambling joint and recent loneliness. Lynn expresses a desire to be left alone as the investigation begins.

The next morning, Lynn wakes to the sound of a boat revving and discovers Drummy moving it as she was asked. A doorbell rings and a new officer, Frankovitch, asks about clothes from the dead woman, prompting Drummy to finally surrender his key. The practical intrusions continue as the tension in the house grows.

The Sorenson couple spies on Lynn and urges Drummy to make friends with the new tenant, hinting at Eloise's fate and suggesting he should act quickly. They discuss how Eloise’s death could be leveraged to shape future arrangements. Drummy listens but remains enigmatic about his intentions.

Drummy flirts with Lynn on the dock, but she rebuffs him. She returns to the house to find Amy already arranging a sale, noting a potential buyer and the need for a deposit. Lynn presses for practicalities—moving the boat and fixing the railing—as the sale process begins to take shape.

On the beach, Drummy reveals a scar behind his ear and recounts aspects of his past as a fisherman and the support from his aunt and uncle. Lynn and Drummy share a kiss as the tension between affection and danger deepens. He hints at a complicated life that contrasts with her privileged circumstances.

Lynn discovers Eloise Crandall's diary hidden behind a fireplace cutout, reading about Drummy's attempts to charm Eloise and the money involved with the Sorensons. Eloise’s last entries imply Drummy was due to visit, while Eloise accuses him in her writings. Lynn burns the diary as Drummy arrives in a suit and insists they have a date.

The Sorensons burst in, eager to meet Lynn, and she makes it clear they are not welcome to stay. Drummy cancels his plans with them, but tensions rise as he pursues Lynn. A tense moment ends with Drummy grabbing her and Lynn biting his hand; they retreat to the beach where he rips her dress and they kiss amid the confrontation.

The morning after the confrontation, Lynn hears a boat on the water and discovers Drummy's boat is missing. Mrs. Murchison, the maid, brings cufflinks and a tie found in the house, and Lt. Galley warns that a lone female can be a target for criminals. The tension between romance and danger continues to mount as the couple's future becomes uncertain.

Over the next several days, Lynn's guarded relationship with Drummy evolves into a wedding plan as they consider Catalina and a future together. The Sorensons arrive with a new driver, Roddy, to extend their well-wishes and to reinforce Drummy's ties to the house. Drummy proclaims his love, and Lynn signals a willingness to move forward.

Amy reveals she switched the fuel pumps to keep Drummy for herself and also killed Eloise, confirming suspicions of foul play. Lt. Gulley arrives to detain Amy as Drummy and Lynn reframe their bond around the crisis. The confession reshapes the investigation and clarifies the danger surrounding the couple.

Drummy chases after Amy and saves Lynn from a deadly turn, and Amy is taken away by the police. The couple shares a loving embrace and a kiss as cheerful music plays, signaling a dangerous romance resolved by mutual protection and commitment. The film closes on their hopeful union despite the shadow of Eloise's death.