Manhandled

Struggling writer Alton Bennet explains to psychiatrist Dr. Redman that his nightmares center on murdering his wealthy wife Ruth and her valuable jewels. He describes the dreams in vivid detail and links them to real guilt. The session sets up the eerie connection between Bennet's subconscious fears and the murder plot.

Merl Kramer casually mentions Bennet's problems to her boyfriend, Karl Benson, and notes that Ruth Bennet will drop into Redman's office that evening for a session. She hints at the couple's strain and the looming visit from Ruth. This ties Benson directly into the Bennet case from the start.

Benson decides to exploit the Bennets' situation, steals Merl's keys, and has duplicates made so he can access the jewels later. He begins laying the groundwork for obtaining Ruth Bennet's jewelry. The plan foreshadows the later theft and manipulation.

Benson waits outside Redman's office for Ruth Bennet to arrive, then records the Bennet address from information visible in her car. The moment marks the extraction of a potential target and foreshadows future crime. The tension escalates as he moves from watching to acting.

Benson shows the jewels to his pawnbroker contact Charlie, seeking a valuation. Charlie overhears police chatter about a murder rap on the loot and advises disposing of the bulk of the pieces to avoid trouble. Benson notes the danger in pursuing the loot openly.

Ruth Bennet is discovered murdered, matching the method Bennet had dreamt. Detective Dawson and Insurance Investigator Joe Cooper join the investigation, with questions about missing transcripts of Bennet's nightmare conversations. Redman is shown to have a head bump, hinting at a prior encounter.

Dawson and Cooper learn that Merl's job references were forged, heightening suspicions about her character. Merl claims she got the job through a friend, Karl Benson, linking him to the Bennet case. The investigation widens to include Merl as a potential suspect.

Benson downplays his relationship with Merl and plants one of Ruth Bennet's rings under Merl's sofa cushion to frame her. Merl later pawns the ring for a few dollars, unaware of its true origin. The ring becomes a crucial piece in the theft and accusation trail.

Benson presents Merl's bankbook to Dawson and Cooper, insinuating that a recent large deposit relates to the stolen jewelry. The investigators begin to treat Merl as a suspect while Benson works to steer attention away from himself. The case grows more tangled as financial clues are introduced.

Benson confronts Redman and realizes the psychiatrist is connected to the jewels. He had previously knocked Redman unconscious after seeing him leave the Bennet apartment, then takes the jewel pieces for himself. The confrontation confirms Redman's involvement in the crime.

Benson and Redman agree to share the insurance payout, with Benson promising to plant the jewels in Merl's apartment and turn them in to Dawson and Cooper. He then uses Redman's car to kill Redman as a payoff, severing Redman's leverage in the case. The deal deepens the conspiracy around the Bennet murder.

Benson hides the stash inside Merl's chair and phones Dawson to claim he has found the loot. Merl returns, confronts him, and a struggle ensues on the apartment roof as police arrive to rescue Merl. The complex web of lies begins to unravel under the weight of the investigation.

The police arrest Charlie for possession of stolen property, and Karl Benson's scheme collapses under interrogation. Merl is spared further accusation as the case moves toward its legal resolution. The tangled plot ends with the criminals facing consequences.