Mary Burns, Fugitive

Mary Burns, Fugitive

Year: 1935

Runtime: 84 mins

Language: English

Director: William K. Howard

Drama

“I didn’t know he was a killer!” A young woman who owns a coffee shop falls for a handsome young customer, unaware that he is a gangster.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935)

Trace every key event in Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Mary runs a roadside coffee shop in a rural town

Mary Burns runs a small roadside coffee shop near a rural town and is secretly in love with Babe Wilson. Babe is a gangster, but Mary does not know that his affection masks a dangerous criminal world.

Daytime rural town coffee shop
2

Babe asks Mary to marry and flee to Canada

Babe arrives with his partner and claims he must go to Canada on 'business,' pressing Mary to marry him immediately. He wants them to run away together, while Mary remains unaware that his suitcase is filled with stolen loot.

Evening Mary's coffee shop
3

Arrest attempt, murder, and Babe's escape

Police arrive to arrest Babe, but he shoots his partner to prevent testimony and makes his getaway. Mary is left to be arrested and is later convicted of aiding and abetting a known criminal.

Night Mary's coffee shop
4

Three years in prison and a daring escape

Three years into her fifteen-year sentence, Mary escapes with fellow inmate Goldie Gordon, who is secretly working with the police. They intend to use Mary to lure Babe out of hiding.

Three years into sentence prison
5

Mary starts anew at a hospital and meets Barton Powell

Mary takes a job as a hospital maid and meets Barton Powell, a famed explorer and writer recovering from snow blindness. They grow close as she reads to him and talks about his adventures.

Weeks after escape hospital
6

Spike's visit and Mary's hasty exit to Barton

Spike, Babe's accomplice, visits the apartment shared by Mary and Goldie to take Mary to Babe. She flees and goes to the hospital to see Barton one last time, slipping away quietly after he falls asleep.

Night Mary and Goldie's apartment
7

Mary flees from Oklahoma to Utah to hide

Mary travels from Oklahoma to Utah and hides in a small town, hoping to stay out of Babe's reach. During a church service, Babe tries to abduct her, but undercover police interrupt and he leaves after threatening with a hand grenade.

During church service Utah, small town church
8

Police reunite Mary with Barton at the lakeside house

Detective Harper and his men track Mary to Barton Powell's rustic lakeside house and bring her there to reunite with him. Barton has regained his sight and proposes, and Mary accepts.

Evening Barton Powell's lakeside house
9

Stakeout and Babe's intrusion at the lakeside home

Harper and the police stake out the lakeside home, waiting for Babe to show up to take Mary away. Babe sneaks in and threatens to shoot Barton if Mary does not go with him.

Evening Barton’s lakeside house
10

Mary shoots Babe to save Barton

Mary pretends to kiss Babe, then draws a pistol from his shoulder holster and fires, killing him. The threat is ended as Babe dies and Mary is freed from his grasp.

Evening Barton’s lakeside house
11

Record expunged and Mary marries Barton

Detective Harper arranges for Mary's criminal record to be expunged, clearing her name. Mary and Barton marry, sealing their new life together.

Immediately after confrontation Lakeside house / courthouse
12

A new life with Barton Powell

Mary begins a new life with Barton Powell, free from crime and danger. She has found love and a chance at happiness, thanks to the events that brought them together.

After marriage Together in their home

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 11:08

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The pattern involves an ordinary character being pulled into a dangerous criminal world, suffering significant trauma or loss, and then engaging in a struggle for survival and freedom. The conflict is typically resolved through a final, decisive confrontation, after which the protagonist escapes the darkness and is rewarded with safety, love, or vindication, creating a clear arc from innocence through trauma to hope.

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Mary Burns, Fugitive Summary

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Mary Burns, Fugitive Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in Mary Burns, Fugitive

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Mary Burns, Fugitive. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Mary Burns, Fugitive

Mary Burns, Fugitive Spoiler-Free Summary

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Mary Burns, Fugitive Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Mary Burns, Fugitive

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