michaellevenson
Member: Rank 8
1.1 Lady Killer
At a hotel, we see a young man named Paul Tanner set his sights on a young woman . Learning the woman's hotel room, Paul gains entrance while she is out and learns that she is an American named Jenny Frith. Paul phones an unidentified person and tells of his plans to seduce Jenny for some suspicious reason. After striking up a conversation with her, Paul begins to lure her into a whirlwind romance which ends with him asking her to marry him. When she accepts, he takes her to what he tells her is his home by the sea. Finding it beautiful, Jenny is thrilled to be there, even though the location is very isolated and lonely. Jenny, who has no English friends other than Paul, seems disconnected from her past, and is now entirely immersed in Paul's world.
Things are not as they appear, however. Paul continues to make secret phone calls to someone, and Jenny becomes aware of it. When she surprises Paul by changing her hairstyle and putting on an evening gown and makeup, Paul becomes inexplicably furious, seriously hurting Jenny's feelings. Paul smooths it over by explaining that he does not prefer "sophisticated women", and that he loves Jenny for her simple look. A busybody cleaning lady is Jenny's only contact with anyone, and she learns from the cleaning woman that Paul does not own the house, as Jenny had thought. Paul admits this and tells her buying a house is something for two to do, and in the spring they'll look together for a house, one big enough for a family. Paul surprises Jenny with a dress he claims he's bought for her, but when he goes out again, Jenny is surprised when a man claiming to be a friend of Paul's arrives at the house.
He identifies himself as Jack Hardisty and he asks Jenny if she's a relative of Paul's wife . Jenny is confused until Jack explains that Paul is married to a woman named Toni, whom he says Jenny resembles a great deal. After Jack leaves, Jenny searches through Paul's things and finds a photograph of Toni. She does indeed resemble Jenny, even to the dress Paul gave Jenny to wear.
When Jenny confronts Paul with this, Paul explains that Toni is dead, a previous marriage that left him unhappy and that he'd just as soon forget. His attempt to get Jenny to resemble Toni was meant to give him closure and move on with his life in a happy manner. Jenny accepts this, but Jack Hardisty returns and asks to speak to Paul in private. Jack explains that he's figured out Paul's scheme, and he demands half of whatever profit Paul intends to collect. Paul reluctantly agrees and suggests they celebrate their renewed partnership with a drink. While pouring the drinks Paul unseen removes a sock, places the whisky decanter top inside it, and when Jack isn't looking smashes it down on his head. Jenny is asleep now and Paul drags the body to his car and goes to the clifftop throwing the body over edge. Paul then meets a woman in secret; it is Toni, Paul's real wife.
They intend to pass Jenny off as Toni and murder her in order to collect Toni's life insurance policy. The scheme is laid out like clockwork; Paul sends Jenny away for the afternoon and then walks with Toni along the cliffs; when a neighbour is within sight of them, Toni pretends to faint. As expected the neighbour, an old man comes to the house to inquire how Mrs Tanner is, Paul tells the man that his wife is suffering from unexplained fainting attacks.
Toni sees a doctor in town and pretends to suffer the same symptoms, thus establishing a medical record of the attacks. Toni tells Paul that she's terribly jealous of Jenny being able to live with Paul and sleep with him, but Paul tells her it will only be a short time before she's dead and they can run off together with the money. Finally the day arrives, but before Paul can make his move and push Jenny from the cliff, she nonchalantly reveals something that Paul did not know: Jenny is actually very wealthy, an heiress with a million dollars in the bank.
At a hotel, we see a young man named Paul Tanner set his sights on a young woman . Learning the woman's hotel room, Paul gains entrance while she is out and learns that she is an American named Jenny Frith. Paul phones an unidentified person and tells of his plans to seduce Jenny for some suspicious reason. After striking up a conversation with her, Paul begins to lure her into a whirlwind romance which ends with him asking her to marry him. When she accepts, he takes her to what he tells her is his home by the sea. Finding it beautiful, Jenny is thrilled to be there, even though the location is very isolated and lonely. Jenny, who has no English friends other than Paul, seems disconnected from her past, and is now entirely immersed in Paul's world.
Things are not as they appear, however. Paul continues to make secret phone calls to someone, and Jenny becomes aware of it. When she surprises Paul by changing her hairstyle and putting on an evening gown and makeup, Paul becomes inexplicably furious, seriously hurting Jenny's feelings. Paul smooths it over by explaining that he does not prefer "sophisticated women", and that he loves Jenny for her simple look. A busybody cleaning lady is Jenny's only contact with anyone, and she learns from the cleaning woman that Paul does not own the house, as Jenny had thought. Paul admits this and tells her buying a house is something for two to do, and in the spring they'll look together for a house, one big enough for a family. Paul surprises Jenny with a dress he claims he's bought for her, but when he goes out again, Jenny is surprised when a man claiming to be a friend of Paul's arrives at the house.
He identifies himself as Jack Hardisty and he asks Jenny if she's a relative of Paul's wife . Jenny is confused until Jack explains that Paul is married to a woman named Toni, whom he says Jenny resembles a great deal. After Jack leaves, Jenny searches through Paul's things and finds a photograph of Toni. She does indeed resemble Jenny, even to the dress Paul gave Jenny to wear.
When Jenny confronts Paul with this, Paul explains that Toni is dead, a previous marriage that left him unhappy and that he'd just as soon forget. His attempt to get Jenny to resemble Toni was meant to give him closure and move on with his life in a happy manner. Jenny accepts this, but Jack Hardisty returns and asks to speak to Paul in private. Jack explains that he's figured out Paul's scheme, and he demands half of whatever profit Paul intends to collect. Paul reluctantly agrees and suggests they celebrate their renewed partnership with a drink. While pouring the drinks Paul unseen removes a sock, places the whisky decanter top inside it, and when Jack isn't looking smashes it down on his head. Jenny is asleep now and Paul drags the body to his car and goes to the clifftop throwing the body over edge. Paul then meets a woman in secret; it is Toni, Paul's real wife.
They intend to pass Jenny off as Toni and murder her in order to collect Toni's life insurance policy. The scheme is laid out like clockwork; Paul sends Jenny away for the afternoon and then walks with Toni along the cliffs; when a neighbour is within sight of them, Toni pretends to faint. As expected the neighbour, an old man comes to the house to inquire how Mrs Tanner is, Paul tells the man that his wife is suffering from unexplained fainting attacks.
Toni sees a doctor in town and pretends to suffer the same symptoms, thus establishing a medical record of the attacks. Toni tells Paul that she's terribly jealous of Jenny being able to live with Paul and sleep with him, but Paul tells her it will only be a short time before she's dead and they can run off together with the money. Finally the day arrives, but before Paul can make his move and push Jenny from the cliff, she nonchalantly reveals something that Paul did not know: Jenny is actually very wealthy, an heiress with a million dollars in the bank.
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