Beth Austin, played by Joan Crawford, is a notorious gangster woman battling severe headaches that threaten her eyesight. Her eye doctor warns her that her condition is worsening rapidly, and she is progressively losing her vision. In a desperate attempt to save her sight, Beth secretly plans to visit a renowned eye clinic in Indiana. She confides her intentions to her gangster boyfriend, Philip Carey, aka Matt Jackson, who becomes suspicious of her reasons for leaving and questions her motives.
Before her operation, Beth is told by Dr. Ben Halleck that the procedure is extremely risky and may not succeed. Despite the cautions, she insists that the doctor proceed with the surgery. Meanwhile, Matt, traveling with his brother Will and towed by his sister-in-law Ann, is involved in a violent incident that results in him killing a policeman after an argument that escalates when he throws a bottle of liquor out of their trailer window in Louisiana. Beth, now recovering at the clinic, spends weeks in bed with her eyes bandaged, avoiding any movement that could jeopardize her recovery.
Once her bandages are removed, Beth regains her sight, though she is required to wear goggles temporarily for protection. Her departure from the clinic is marked by a farewell dinner where she receives champagne, and Dr. Halleck advises her to remain in town a little longer at a nearby hotel. During her stay, Halleck develops a personal interest in her and plans to dine with her, but calls her later to cancel, citing a busy schedule.
Beth’s interactions become more complicated when a private investigator, Joe Crossland, encounters her at the hotel and hints that he's working for Matt, urging her to be cautious. Meanwhile, Dr. Halleck takes her shopping, but their outing is interrupted when he has to visit a woman’s prison, and Beth waits in the car, reflecting on her past experiences and witnessing the harsh treatment of prisoners. At Halleck's home, Beth meets his young daughter Sherry Jackson and assists in cooking, during which Halleck reveals that his wife left him for another man. Feeling emotionally vulnerable, Beth tearfully confesses that she cannot stay, realizing she must leave quickly.
As Beth plans her escape, Crossland tries to extort her, but she delivers a sharp slap in response. Halting her departure, she leaves a message with a florist in Chicago for Matt, indicating she intends to meet him in the morning. Initially planning to leave town by bus, she ultimately decides against it and heads to a farmhouse. There, she supports Dr. Halleck during a critical operation on a farmboy, which successfully results in the boy’s recovery.
Beth’s involvement deepens as she confronts her past and her connections to Matt. She learns that Crossland has kept her family informed, and that Matt is intent on killing Ben Halleck. When Matt confronts Crossland and demands information about Halleck, he succumbs to Crossland's interrogation and kills him. Later, Matt visits Ben at the hospital and watches him perform surgery. As chaos erupts, Beth finds herself caught in the crossfire: Matt, having lost control, fires at Beth and wounds her during the confrontation. The police, alerted by a nurse who overheard Matt, respond with a shootout, killing Matt as he tries to escape.
In the climactic moments, Matt crashes through the glass into the operating theater where Dr. Halleck and others are working. Beth, wounded, and Matt engage in a tense showdown. Beth manages to hit away Matt’s gun as he fires at Ben, and after a fierce struggle, the police shoot and kill Matt. In the aftermath, FBI agent Franklin suggests Beth might receive leniency for her courageous actions, and she and Dr. Halleck hold hands, hopeful for a brighter future after the turmoil they endured.
