The Girl on the Pier

Inspector Chubb obtains a warrant for murder and prepares to arrest the suspect. He then boards a train to Brighton with his wife, their young son Charlie, and teenage daughter Cathy. Cathy spends the ride chatting with Ronnie Hall, the young crime reporter, while Charlie stays close to the buffet car.

On Brighton Pier, ex-convict Nick Lane flirts with Rita Hammond and reminds her of their assignation the night before. He greets Rita's husband Joe Hammond as an old friend, suggesting shared history. The two men later head to Joe's office to continue discussing the missing loot.

In Joe's Wax House, Nick presses Joe about the missing loot and reveals that Hammond used to be known as Harper. Joe responds with cool defiance and warns Nick to back off. From the adjacent Chamber of Horrors, Charlie overhears part of the exchange, realizing the danger that lies ahead.

Charlie Chubb overhears part of the exchange between Nick and Joe in the Chamber of Horrors. The overheard detail about Harper deepens his suspicion that a murder will unfold tonight. He begins to fear for Rita's safety as the pieces start to connect.

At the dance on the pier, Nick and Rita kiss, drawing the jealous attention of Hammond who spots them under the pier. Rita leaves, and Nick and Hammond clash in a tense confrontation. Nick wins the fight and also threatens to blackmail Hammond.

Joe demands that Rita does not see Nick again, trying to sever the dangerous link. Rita confronts the demand with stubborn resolve, continuing her affair with Nick in defiance. The personal feud adds pressure to the ongoing investigation into the missing loot.

While Rita continues her relationship with Nick, Joe empties the safe and takes out a revolver, preparing for a confrontation if needed. The immediate financial motive becomes clearer as the danger surrounding the missing loot grows. The scene shifts the tension toward a deadly night.

Charlie believes he witnessed Joe kill Rita during the earlier confrontation, but Rita is still alive. This misperception fuels his determination to uncover the truth. Charlie shares his suspicions with his parents and friends.

Nick reveals to Ronnie Hall, Cathy, and Charlie that Hammond is actually Harper. The siblings begin to doubt Nick's motives even as they become more invested in solving the case. They vow to uncover the truth before the next move is made.

Ronnie, Cathy, and Charlie go to the library and find newspaper cuttings linking Nick to Harper in a robbery four years earlier. The material confirms a long-running scheme and ties the present danger to past crimes. The trio realizes a planned murder could be imminent.

Charlie tails Hammond, while Cathy watches Rita, and Ronnie informs their father of the developing theory. The trio's coordinated pursuit widens the net and places them in the path of the criminal circle. The approach emphasizes how ordinary kids become key observers in a dangerous situation.

Inspector Chubb positions a couple of officers on the pier and warns Ronnie not to return. The borough's authorities prepare for quick action and try to stabilize the volatile situation. The warning signals that the investigation is entering a critical phase.

Hammond, hidden in plain sight as a waxwork clown, shoots Nick. The act marks the murder that the children anticipated and escalates the night’s danger. Rita and Joe's plans spiral toward tragedy.

Charlie and his mother hurry back to the pier and discover Rita fainted beside Nick's body. The grim sight confirms that the night has taken a deadly turn. The family must face the consequences of the escalating violence.

When the police arrive, Hammond hides inside a waxwork, a chilling display of his ability to blend in. Charlie sees him move and a pursuit across the pier ensues. The chase ends with Hammond slipping into the sea and drowning.