Nora Prentiss

Richard Talbot helps Nora Prentiss after she is struck by a truck near his San Francisco office, and he is immediately drawn to her. The chance meeting sparks a dangerous attraction that unsettles his orderly life. This encounter sets in motion a sequence of events that will threaten both his marriage and his career.

Richard and Nora begin a covert affair, stealing moments away from their daily routines. The relationship grows despite their spouses' presence and social expectations. As the affair deepens, Richard's judgment begins to falter in both his home and his professional life.

Richard forgets his daughter's birthday, highlighting how consumed he is with Nora. He tries to cool the relationship to protect his family, but the bond between him and Nora remains intense. The struggle between duty and desire creates mounting tension at home and at work.

Nora declares she wants to break things off entirely, which shakes Richard to his core. In a moment of recklessness, he almost kills a patient during surgery, revealing how far his emotions have overridden his professional restraint. This crisis forces him to confront how far he is willing to go for Nora.

Richard seizes the opportunity to fake his own death, selecting a look-alike patient he knows has no family. He places his wedding ring on the corpse, loads the body into his car, sets the car on fire, and pushes it off a cliff. He then escapes with Nora to New York, taking a large sum of money from the bank, envisioning a fresh start.

Richard and Nora relocate to New York, living under an alias while the circumstances of Richard's supposed death are investigated. Nora begins singing at a new club opened by her San Francisco boss, while Richard tries to stay out of sight. The fake death lifestyle begins to wear on them as questions about truth linger.

Richard withholds the truth about his identity, and Nora grows increasingly uneasy with his evasive explanations. He continues to hide from the reality of their situation, fearing the collapse of their plans and the possibility of damaging those he loves. The tension between honesty and safety drives their fragile dynamic.

Nora pursues her singing career in the New York club, while Richard drinks heavily and becomes consumed by jealousy. He feels trapped by the lie and anxious about being exposed. Their apartment becomes a pressure cooker as distrust grows between them.

During a confrontation, Richard flees and crashes his car, sustaining a severe facial burn. The injury deepens his isolation and makes him more desperate to maintain the illusion. The accident also increases the scrutiny that could unravel the entire ruse.

The police arrest Richard as a murder suspect after fingerprints are found matching those at Dr. Talbot's crime scene, though they do not realize the injured man is him. The case casts a shadow over his new life and forces a confrontation with the truth he has avoided.

Back in San Francisco, Richard refuses to reveal his identity or defend himself, believing that disclosure would worsen his family's pain. He convinces Nora to help him keep the secret so that he can be convicted and executed for his own murder. The couple's bond is tested as the truth remains buried.

Richard confronts the possibility that his actions have sealed a grim fate for himself and those he loves. He accepts the prospect of a harsh, final consequence rather than reveal the truth. The ending leaves their future uncertain, haunted by the choice to protect a lie at any cost.