Stark Fear

Ellen takes a secretarial job for Cliff Kane to help cover the mounting bills as Jerry's oil-lease income remains inconsistent. The new employment shifts the dynamic of the Winslow marriage, with Ellen contributing to the household while Jerry struggles to keep up. This change also introduces a rival developer into Ellen's daily life.

On Jerry's birthday, Ellen returns home with cake, a phonograph album, and a new black lace bra. Jerry becomes romantic at first, then accuses Ellen of wearing the bra for her boss and calls her a tramp. He forces her to call Cliff and quit the job, then declares he is divorcing Ellen and storms out.

Jerry's boss Mr. Nedwin visits Ellen and explains that Jerry has taken four weeks off without notice and could be fired unless he returns. Ellen takes the blame for upsetting Jerry and resolves to locate him herself to prevent a career setback for him. She seeks help from friends to track him down.

Ellen visits Liz, a friend of Jerry, and learns that Jerry claimed to be from Pennsylvania, but his real roots are in Quehada, Oklahoma. Liz also tells Ellen that Jerry's boyhood friend is Harvey Sugget. This revelation confirms that Ellen's search will lead her into dangerous territory.

In Quehada, Ellen meets Zelda, Harvey's wife, who warns that Harvey is prone to chasing other women and promises to kill if she ever catches him with someone else. Undeterred, Ellen continues to pursue Harvey to uncover Jerry's whereabouts.

Harvey lures Ellen to a cemetery for a confrontation and brings her to the grave of Jerry's mother. He explains that his mother was cruel, and that someone still places fresh flowers on the grave each week. Harvey then rapes Ellen in front of the grave while Jerry watches from nearby.

After the assault, Ellen calls Ruth to come home, and Ruth tends to her bruises while urging openness, which Ellen refuses. She contacts Cliff to reclaim her old job and focuses on working to avoid dwelling on Quehada. Ruth cautions that Jerry is no good but encourages Ellen not to give up on love.

Back in the city, Ellen and Cliff continue to work alongside each other as he proclaims his love, even though he plans to move to Mexico for two years. A coworker reveals Cliff and Jerry once competed for the same job and that Cliff hired the coworker to provoke Jerry. Ellen grows angry at Cliff for using someone else's wife to settle a score.

Jerry calls Ellen from the El Nora motel, room 14, asking to talk. He uses the payphone and informs Cliff where Ellen's room will be, then phones Zelda to tell her Harvey is in room 14. The scheming heightens the danger surrounding Ellen.

Ellen goes to the motel room and finds Harvey there again, who tries to attack her. Zelda arrives and catches Harvey with another woman; Harvey flees into the street where a truck runs him down. Jerry enters, taunts Ellen as a sadist, and then begins strangling her until Cliff arrives, beats Jerry, and saves her.

Cliff saves Ellen and proposes marriage, asking her to go to Mexico with him. Ellen refuses, explaining that she is already married, and returns to Ruth’s home to determine her next steps.

Back at Ruth's, Ruth notes that Jerry collapsed after Cliff's beating and that Ellen later finds papers written in Spanish and a muddy, bloodstained black lace bra in Jerry's pockets. Ellen realizes Jerry was present when Harvey assaulted her in Quehada, and that Harvey ripped the bra off during the rape.

Ruth contacts the El Paso Times and learns that Gerald Winslow divorced Ellen in Mexico. She encourages Ellen to sever ties with the abusive ex-husband and helps arrange a new start. Ellen buys a last-minute ticket and boards Cliff's Mexico-bound plane, seeking a fresh future, while Ruth contemplates how much a one-way ticket to El Paso would cost.