The Stranger Beside Me

Two years earlier, Jennifer Morgan was raped, an event that pushed her into isolation and shaped her guarded, evasive approach to love. She retreated from painting and social life as she tried to cope with the memory of the assault. The trauma lingers and fuels her slow, cautious engagement with new relationships.

At a family party, Jennifer meets Chris Gallagher, who quickly falls in love with her. She remains reluctant toward intimacy, but Chris persuades her to marry him, hoping a husband and home will help her heal. Dana, Chris's 17-year-old cousin, warns that Jennifer won't be happy, but Jennifer does not listen.

Because Chris has just joined the Navy, the couple moves to a seaside town. Jennifer begins to form a friendship with Nancy Halloran, finding some grounding in a supportive neighbor. The fresh start seems like a chance to put the past behind them.

Neighbor Gina Corbet becomes a victim of a peeping tom and is later raped by a masked man. The women in the neighborhood panic, but Chris dismisses the danger and tells Jennifer they are overreacting. Jennifer is unsettled, sensing something dark is brewing beneath the surface.

Chris's temper grows more violent and controlling, casting a shadow over their fragile life. He alternates between charm and aggression, making Jennifer doubt herself and her ability to leave.

Jennifer learns that Chris has been released from the Navy after threatening to kill himself. When she confronts him, he accuses her of being a spy, destabilizing their relationship. That same night, Chris is arrested for voyeurism and pleads guilty, securing an honorable discharge.

Jennifer discovers she is pregnant, which complicates her decision about staying with Chris. Despite the shock, she gives him another chance and they move back to their previous home. For a while, things glimpse a better, more stable chapter.

As the couple settles, a masked rapist resumes preying on local women, and Chris’s temper resurges. Jennifer grows increasingly fearful for her own safety and that of her child. The neighborhood trembles under the renewed threat.

After the birth of Jennifer's daughter, Dana reveals that Chris molested her when she was a child. Jennifer suspects he is involved in the present crimes and seeks help from a detective. The investigator explains he had the evidence but could not act because Chris was protected by a district attorney friend.

Horrified, Jennifer resolves to leave Chris. He becomes abusive as she contemplates separation. Two police officers, led by Officer Kurtz, rescue her and she presses charges against Chris.

Jennifer works with Officer Kurtz to gather evidence, but progress stalls as Chris's influence and intimidation loom. She uncovers weapons in Chris's car, yet by the time the police arrive, the weapons disappear, underscoring the danger she faces. The waiting game undermines her resolve but she remains determined.

One night Jennifer follows Chris and catches him preparing to rape someone. She sabotages his car and alerts Officer Kurtz, allowing the police to arrest him. He pleads guilty to multiple counts and is sentenced to 99 years in prison. Jennifer and her daughter begin a new life in the Southwestern United States.