Crow Hollow 1952

Ann marries Dr. Robert Amour and moves to Crow Hollow

A young woman named Ann marries Doctor Robert 'Bob' Amour and moves to his family estate, Crow Hollow, to live with his three eccentric aunts. Bob's obligation to provide a home for the aunts is presented as a condition of owning the estate. The new household atmosphere is tense and fills Ann with curiosity and unease about the relatives and the future.

Unsettling incidents begin at Crow Hollow

Ann experiences a sequence of alarming events and troubling behavior from the aunts and Willow, the attractive maid. A venomous spider drops from a flowers box onto her hair during a styling session, and she falls ill after a bitter soup prepared by Hester. These incidents fuel Ann's growing conviction that someone is trying to kill her.

Ann attempts to leave Crow Hollow

Feeling pursued by danger, she bribes Willow and slips out of the house with a suitcase, intending to catch a train. Her friend Diana stops her escape before she boards and persuades her to return home. The failed exit underscores the danger lurking within Crow Hollow.

Willow is found murdered

Upon returning to her bedroom, Ann discovers Willow dead, stabbed at the dressing table while wearing the dress Ann had given her. The stark murder confirms that danger remains inside the house and triggers the police investigation. The scene shatters any sense of safety at Crow Hollow.

Police question Ann and uncover rumors

The police question Ann about Willow's death and doubt her claim of being the intended victim, noting a hair color discrepancy between Ann and the maid. An old rumor surfaces that Willow, who had been adopted, might be the child of a Crow Hollow gardener. The investigation deepens the mystery surrounding the estate.

Residents confined to Crow Hollow

With the investigation underway, the police forbid anyone from leaving Crow Hollow except for Robert on professional calls. The house becomes a tense, isolated stage where everyone awaits answers and confronts their secrets. Suspicion and fear hang over every corner.

Ann and Robert theorize Willow's disguise

Ann and Robert form a theory that Willow wore a hat at the dressing table to conceal her true hair color, reinforcing Ann's belief that she was the intended victim. The suspicion drives a wedge of mistrust through the household as they debate who else might be involved. The plot thickens as clues are re-examined.

Diana comes to stay to support Ann

To reassure Ann, her friend Diana comes to stay at Crow Hollow and provides a trusted ally within the house. Diana's presence helps Ann resist isolation and offers a different perspective on the events unfolding. The stay adds another layer to the delicate balance of loyalties in the estate.

A non-existent phone call and a thwarted departure

Aunt Opal hints that a telephone call is needed for Robert to leave on a medical case, but Ann realizes the call never rang and stops him from leaving. The scene highlights Opal's manipulations and the fragile trust within the household. The delay buys time for further investigation and revelations.

Opal confesses Willow's death and her plans for Crow Hollow

Opal admits that she had inadvertently killed Willow, her illegitimate daughter, while intending to harm Ann and push Robert toward a plan of marrying Willow to keep Crow Hollow in the family. The confession exposes the true motive behind the earlier events and reshapes the mystery. The revelation widens the consequences for everyone in the estate.

Opal drinks the poisoned coffee and dies

In the confrontation that follows, Opal picks up a cup of poisoned coffee and drinks it, dying as a result. Robert's grim response, telling Ann that 'it's better this way,' underscores the tragedy and the collapse of Opal's schemes. The murder within the house reaches a fatal climax.