Vertigo

On a dark San Francisco night, a criminal makes a desperate escape across rooftops. Detective John 'Scottie' Ferguson and a police officer pursue him, leading to a tense chase filled with adrenaline as they navigate the heights of the city.

In a sudden turn of events, Scottie slips while trying to follow the police officer. He helplessly watches as the officer falls to his death, a traumatic experience that triggers Scottie's acrophobia, leaving him forever changed.

Months later, Scottie reclines in Midge's home, grappling with his retirement from the police force due to his crippling fear of heights. Midge, his former fiancée, expresses her concern for him, sparking conversations about their past and future.

Scottie meets with Gavin Elster, who asks him to follow his wife, Madeleine. Gavin expresses his concerns about her strange behavior, hinting at supernatural elements, setting in motion a web of intrigue and obsession.

At Ernie's, Scottie first lays eyes on the enchanting Madeleine Elster. Her striking beauty mesmerizes him, igniting an obsession that will change the course of his life.

Haunted by her presence, Scottie follows Madeleine around San Francisco. He witnesses her behavior at various locations, each encounter deepening his fascination and revealing the mysterious link to the grave he has discovered.

Scottie and Midge visit historian Pop Liebel, who shares the tragic tale of carlotta Valdes, explaining how her life mirrored the mysterious behaviors of Madeleine. This revelation adds layers to Scottie’s investigation and obsession.

While at Fort Point, Madeleine unexpectedly jumps into the bay. Scottie dives in to save her, bringing her back to his apartment, where tension and attraction simmer, drawing them closer.

At the San Juan Bautista mission, Scottie and Madeleine explore together. As Madeleine begins to recall haunting memories of the bell tower and her past, a tragic sense of inevitability builds between them.

In a heart-stopping moment, Scottie's vertigo flares up, rendering him powerless to prevent Madeleine from falling to her death from the tower. This tragedy shatters Scottie's world, leaving him lost in grief.

At a judicial hearing, Scottie faces cruelty as the judge blames him for Madeleine's death. Gavin provides a facade of support but soon leaves for Europe, deepening Scottie’s sense of isolation.

Scottie's mental health deteriorates as he becomes engulfed in a cycle of nightmares filled with visions of Carlotta Valdes and the haunting memories of his lost love. His guilt and trauma manifest through vivid dreams.

After being released from the hospital, Scottie encounters a woman named Judy Barton who resembles Madeleine. Judy's sympathy for Scottie's heartache leads her to agree to date him, igniting a complex relationship.

As Scottie's relationship with Judy grows, he attempts to recreate his lost love, transforming Judy into a living version of Madeleine. Judy's consent to alter her appearance reflects her deep feelings for Scottie, complicating their dynamic.

In a gripping climax at the mission, Scottie's desperate pursuit of the truth leads him to the top of the bell tower. The shocking revelation of Judy's true identity and her tragic fall delivers the ultimate blow as Scottie is left in despair once again.