Striking Poses

A disturbed woman tries to bury a shirt stained with blood and then checks into a motel under a fake ID, introducing her alias Julie Summerfield. The sequence establishes the tense, mysterious escape from a violent past and hints at the danger looming over her. This opening sets the central premise of a woman on the run from her own history.

Two detectives quickly locate the woman and reveal her real name, Gage Sullivan. They outline her past as a freelance photographer and suggest a pull toward sensational work. The confrontation redefines her motivations and fuels the conflict ahead.

Gage explains that she wanted to break into news photography but drifted into high paying paparazzi work, despite despising the job. She is portrayed as talented yet morally conflicted, chasing money at the expense of integrity. This tension foreshadows the external dangers she will face from stalkers and cons.

An unknown figure starts photographing Gage and then breaks into her house, leaving signs of their presence to terrify her. The break-in raises the stakes and makes the danger feel immediate. Gage reports it, but the police appear dismissive and underinvested in her case.

Frustrated by the lack of police help, Gage infiltrates a private health club where she witnesses soap opera star April Indigo snorting cocaine. Her assistant Casey Roper helps her slip away from the party, but the stalker continues to follow and photograph her as she exits. The episode shows the stalker’s relentless pursuit and Gage’s precarious line of work.

Terrified, Gage enlists security man Nick Angel to help create a new identity. They manage to change her name to Julie Summerfield, offering a temporary shield from the stalker. This alliance marks a turning point as she attempts to flee and rebuild her life.

Gage learns that one of her old friends, who had been photographed years earlier, has been murdered. The revelation links the stalker to a darker history and raises the stakes for her safety. The past starts to collide with the present as danger closes in.

Murray 'Gadger' Buck, a psychotic hit man, arrives and unsettles the plan to start anew. The encounter signals an imminent, violent threat and pushes Gage and Nick toward drastic measures to protect themselves. Gadger’s presence raises the tension to a near-breaking point.

That night, Gage and Nick break into the library to research Julie Summerfield and learn more about her past. When they return home, they find a stalker’s trademark at the door, confirming that their plan has been compromised. The search deepens the mystery and fear.

The next morning, Gage receives photographs showing Casey being mutilated and murdered. She goes to Gadger, asking him to kill her stalker, who then demands $150,000 and a place far away from people, while instructing her to keep Nick out of it. The blow shocks her into action and shapes her next decisions.

Nick breaks into Gadger's apartment and discovers that Gadger is the stalker and Casey's killer. He then heads to an abandoned house to confront the danger, but Gadger shoots him, escalating the threat and forcing Gage to rethink her strategy. The revelation ties the trio together as dangerous con artists.

In present time, detectives join forces with Gage to locate Gadger and uncover that Gadger, Nick, and Casey were orchestrating a larger con. They decide to turn the tables by playing along and exploiting the con artists’ greed, blurring lines between victim and mastermind. The alliance marks a twisty strategic pivot.

Gage uses a listening wire to manipulate Gadger, hearing that the person who photographed Nick’s murder is demanding $250,000. The tension increases as the price goes up, revealing shifting loyalties among the criminals and showcasing Gage’s willingness to leverage both sides for control and wealth.

During the exchange, Linus poses as the threat, and Gage fires blanks to shoot him, scaring Gadger into handing over the money. When Linus does not respond, Gage fears she may have killed him and flees with the cash. The moment cements her mastery of deception and manipulation.

Gadger reveals himself as an associate of Valerie, who then blows up Gadger’s car. Casey and Nick shoot and kill Valerie; Casey also kills Nick and ends up setting herself on fire. Gage flees the burning building and fakes her own death as Margaret Mudge, stepping into wealth and a new identity.