Woman in Hiding

Deborah Chandler Clark faces strong opposition from her father, a mill owner in Clarksville, North Carolina, over her romance with Selden Clark IV. The conflict foreshadows a deadly clash of family power, love, and ambition. The founding family status and his brutish reputation set the stage for tragedy.

Soon after Deborah's father dies at the mill, Clark consoles her and proposes marriage. The tragedy binds Deborah emotionally to Clark, setting up a union that promises protection and danger. The power dynamics of the town shift as Clark positions himself as both husband and ally.

Deborah and Clark marry and travel to their honeymoon cabin. Patricia Monahan arrives, claiming a romantic link with Clark and accusing him of murdering Deborah's father to gain control of the family mill. The conflicting claims plant seeds of doubt in Deborah and drive her toward seeking annulment.

That night, Deborah flees in the couple's car after Clark tampered with the brakes. The car careens toward the river, but she jumps out just in time and hides from Clark's flashlight search. She begins a perilous escape across a steep and winding mountainside.

Believing Deborah is still alive, she goes to Raleigh to enlist Monahan and persuade the police to act. Monahan is mysteriously out of town for weeks, leaving Deborah to wait and plot from isolation. Deborah clings to a fragile hope that someone will come to her aid.

Clark posts a five thousand dollar reward for information leading to Deborah, insisting she is mentally unstable and must be committed to an asylum. His act fuels a manhunt driven by fear and desire for control of the Clarksville mill. The chase intertwines with Deborah's quest for safety as she fights to stay free.

In Raleigh, Deborah meets Keith Ramsey, an ex-soldier who becomes entangled in the hunt when he learns of the reward. His interest shifts from romance to profit as he plots a windfall and a possible future venture on the California coast. Deborah remains wary but curious about his intentions.

To throw off pursuers, Deborah bleaches her hair and adopts the alias Ann Carter while Ramsey tailors his pursuit as if it is mere chance. She travels toward Knoxville in hopes of staying ahead of Clark's reach. The cat-and-mouse chase deepens as fear clouds trust.

Deborah eludes a dangerous confrontation by slipping off a bus in Knoxville, with Ramsey in pursuit. At a hotel busy with a convention, Clark almost pushes Deborah down a six-story fire exit stairs until a drunken interruption disrupts the attempt. She flees back to her room, terrified and unsure whom to trust.

Deborah confides in Ramsey, who suspects she needs psychiatric care and informs Clark. They board a train toward Angel's Cove in California, hoping for a new life together. Clark continues to plot to have Deborah committed once they reach their destination.

On the train, Deborah and Ramsey try to move toward safety, but Clark's schemes threaten to reclaim her. Ramsey realizes the danger and drops plans for a quiet life, making urgent moves to protect Deborah. The distance narrows as the coast approaches.

Back in Raleigh, Deborah reconnects with Monahan, but Monahan abducts her and drives straight to the Clarksville mill. The plan is to return Deborah to Clark and to imprison her within the same deadly dynamics she fled. Deborah faces the same peril in an environment where the killer dominates.

Inside the mill, Deborah is hunted along catwalks while Monahan trails close behind. Clark stalks the shadows and mistakes another woman for Deborah, pushing her to her death. Ramsey bursts in, fights Clark on a high ledge, and Clark falls after the struggle.

Deborah and Keith drive away to Angel's Cove, now married for three months. They reveal plans to expand their family, and Deborah hints at a surprise that thrills Keith. The final note is one of love, resilience, and the promise of new life.