Woman of the Year

In 1971, flight attendant Charlie moves into a new apartment in New York City. While settling in, she notices Rodney, who is taking photographs across the street, and asks for his help with moving her furniture.

After helping Charlie with her move, Rodney takes advantage of the unsuspecting flight attendant. He assaults her and ultimately kills her in her own apartment, marking the beginning of his violent crimes.

In 1977, Rodney photographs a woman in Wyoming, gaining her trust by discussing her recent breakup. After luring her into a false sense of security, he strangles her to death after initially reviving her from unconsciousness.

By 1978, Sheryl Bradshaw, a struggling actress from Pennsylvania, is trying to make a name for herself in Los Angeles. Her agent encourages her to participate in The Dating Game, suggesting it might lead to bigger opportunities.

Sheryl reluctantly goes to tape The Dating Game, where she's confronted with three hidden bachelors. One of them turns out to be Rodney, who presents a charming facade that hides his sinister nature.

During the taping, audience member Laura recognizes Rodney as the man associated with her friend Alison, who was recently found murdered. She attempts to alert the producers about her suspicions but is dismissed.

Despite feeling the questions are offensive, Sheryl goes off-script during the show and ends up connecting with Rodney more than the other contestants. He wins the date which includes a weekend trip to Carmel.

Following the taping, Sheryl and Rodney go for drinks where he tries to impress her with his knowledge of plays. The mood shifts when she playfully teases him, which makes Sheryl uncomfortable and suspicious of his intentions.

As Sheryl leaves the bar, Rodney insists on walking her to her car. After she gives him a fake phone number and expresses her disinterest in the date, he threatens her, leading to a terrifying escape in the parking lot.

The following day, Laura attempts to report her suspicions about Rodney to the police but is met with skepticism. Unable to provide concrete evidence, her concerns are dismissed, allowing Rodney to continue his criminal activities unimpeded.

After her unsettling experience on The Dating Game, Sheryl decides to leave California. She makes a phone call to thank her agent while looking forward to new opportunities outside of a city that has become too dangerous for her.

In 1979, Rodney encounters Amy, a teenage runaway outside a motel. He offers her a modeling career, luring her into a dangerous situation despite her vulnerability as a runaway.

Rodney drives Amy to a remote area in the desert where he photographs her. He subsequently assaults and binds her, revealing the full extent of his violent proclivities before she manages to escape.

After Amy finds an opportunity to flee during a gas station stop, the police are alerted and arrest Rodney. This leads to his eventual trial where he is linked to multiple murders.

A postscript reveals that after being released on bail, Rodney went on to murder additional victims. He was ultimately convicted of at least seven murders, with estimates suggesting his total victims could be as high as 130.