Night Nurse

Lora Hart applies for a nurse trainee position at the city hospital but is rejected because she does not have a high school diploma. The rejection highlights the social barriers she must overcome in a system that values formal credentials over grit and compassion. She remains determined to pursue nursing despite the setback.

During a chance encounter with Dr. Arthur Bell, the hospital's chief of staff, Lora impresses him with her empathy and resolve. Bell tells Miss Dillon to hire her despite the missing diploma, recognizing her potential. This encounter changes the course of Lora's professional life.

Lora and Miss Maloney, a fellow nurse, become roommates and best friends. They share the burdens of training and support each other through the early challenges of hospital life. Their bond gives them resilience as they navigate strict curfews and demanding shifts.

After violating curfew, Miss Dillon assigns Lora and Maloney to night duty in the emergency room. The shift exposes them to urgent, high-stakes medical cases and tests their resourcefulness. Lora proves she can handle pressure and quickly earns a reputation for competence.

Lora treats a bootlegger named Mortie who has a gunshot wound. Mortie tries to persuade her not to report the wound to the police, hinting at dangerous ties and wanting to know Lora better. The encounter foreshadows later complications and moral ambiguities surrounding her ambitions.

After she completes her training, Lora is hired as a private nurse for two sick children, Desney and Nanny Ritchey, and moves into the Ritchey mansion. The environment is marked by frequent parties and social pretensions. Lora begins to uncover signs that the children are not receiving proper care.

At a Ritchey mansion party, a drunken guest tries to molest Lora and is knocked out by Nick, the chauffeur. The incident reveals the brutal control within the Ritchey household. Lora senses the danger that surrounds the children's well-being.

When Mrs. Ritchey becomes intoxicated, Nick demands that Lora pump her stomach; she refuses and is knocked unconscious with a telephone receiver. The assault marks a turning point, showing how the household members will use violence to maintain control. Lora becomes more resolved to protect the children.

Lora quits her position after witnessing mistreatment of the children under Dr. Ranger's questionable care. She reports her suspicions to Dr. Bell, who is initially reluctant to interfere with another doctor's patients but agrees to advise her. This marks the beginning of an evidence-driven effort to expose the abuse.

Dr. Bell ultimately urges Lora to return and observe, collecting concrete proof of the mistreatment. He opts for a cautious, documentary approach rather than direct confrontation. Lora resolves to assemble watchful, detailed evidence to support intervention.

Nanny becomes so weak that Lora fears for her life, and she struggles to get Mrs. Ritchey to show concern. The children's deteriorating condition underscores the systemic neglect within the Ritchey household. Lora's determination to protect the children hardens.

Mortie delivers liquor to the mansion and Lora sends him to fetch milk. Mortie steals from a delicatessen to supply the milk needed for a folk remedy like a milk bath for Nanny. These improvised efforts illustrate Lora's willingness to improvise care despite limited support.

Maxwell, the frightened housekeeper, confides suspicions to Lora and reveals that Nanny and Desney have a trust fund, suggesting Nick's motive to starve the girls for the inheritance. Ranger's involvement with Nick adds a dangerous layer to the plot. Lora pieces together a dangerous conspiracy within the Ritchey circle.

Mortie threatens Nick and Dr. Bell arrives to examine Nanny. When Bell tries to move the child to the hospital, Nick knocks him out. Mortie stops Nick from interfering further, and Lora administers an emergency blood transfusion to save Nanny's life.

The following day, Mortie gives Lora a lift as they pass police cars, suggesting Nick will avoid arrest due to his criminal connections. An ambulance delivers a corpse dressed in a chauffeur's uniform to the hospital's morgue, signaling the chilling consequences of the Ritchey scheme.