The House on Telegraph Hill

Polish woman Viktoria Kowalska is imprisoned with other Polish prisoners in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the German occupation. She forms a bond with fellow prisoner Karin Dernakova, who dreams of reuniting with her son Christopher. Their unlikely friendship becomes Viktoria's lifeline amid brutal conditions.

Karin dies shortly before liberation. Viktoria uses Karin's papers to assume her identity, hoping for a better future. The deception marks the start of Viktoria's new life after the camp.

As the camp is liberated by Allies, Viktoria is interviewed by Major Marc Bennett and offered a place in a camp for people displaced by the war. She begins to rebuild her life while still posing as Karin. The interview foreshadows Marc's later role in her life.

Viktoria writes to Karin's Aunt Sophia in San Francisco, hoping for support. Instead, she receives a cable reporting Sophia's death, a blow that complicates her plans to claim any family fortune. The setback pushes Viktoria toward a new path in America.

Four years after Sophia's death, Viktoria travels to New York City, under Karin's name, to pursue custody of Chris. She learns of Sophia's fortune intended for Chris when he comes of age, and she encounters Alan Spender, his guardian and Sophia's relative. The meeting sets the stage for a marriage that would secure her American life.

To secure a foothold in America, Karin lets Alan romance her and they marry. Alan takes her to San Francisco, where Chris meets his 'mother' for the first time and the family settles in Sophia's Italianate Telegraph Hill mansion.

Life at the Telegraph Hill mansion proves idyllic at first, but tension grows between Karin and Margaret, the governess who has raised Chris and resents Karin's intrusion. Chris reveals a burnt-out playhouse he damaged with a toy explosion, and Karin is uneasy about Alan's knowledge.

Karin reconnects with Major Marc Bennett, who is revealed to be an old schoolmate of Alan and a lawyer involved in Sophia's affairs. He is attracted to Karin but maintains professional boundaries, adding romantic tension to the household.

Karin explores the mysterious playhouse overlooking Telegraph Hill and nearly falls through a hole in the floor, saved by Alan. His alarmed reaction plants seeds of suspicion in Karin.

On a day when Chris was supposed to be with Karin, the brakes on Karin's car fail. She escapes unharmed and turns to Marc to begin investigating whether Alan is behind the accidents to inherit Sophia's money.

Karin reveals her true identity to Marc and confronts Alan. Marc confesses he is in love with Karin, complicating loyalties and deepening the emotional stakes surrounding her precarious situation.

Karin discovers Sophia's obituary in Margaret's scrapbook, proving that the cable reporting Sophia's death was sent before she died and suggesting Alan's involvement. She attempts to call Marc but Alan prevents her from using the phone.

In a tense confrontation, Alan admits murdering Sophia and dosing her orange juice with sedatives. Karin reveals she switched the glasses, causing Alan to drink the poisoned juice himself.

With Alan dead and Margaret arrested for refusing to aid him, Karin leaves the house with Marc and Chris to start a new life in America.