The Return of the Whistler 1948

Ted's car breaks down and leaves Alice at a hotel

Ted's car breaks down in a small town and he leaves his fiancée Alice at a hotel while he goes to the next town to get the car fixed. He plans to return once it's repaired, but when he returns the next morning, Alice is missing. He reports this to the night clerk and begins to search the area. The disappearance kicks off the central quest of the movie.

Alice is missing; police involvement begins

Ted asks the night clerk about Alice and learns she checked out about 30 minutes after he left the night before. The clerk's account is accompanied by a minor altercation, and the police are summoned to handle the confusion. This marks the transition from a missing-person case to police involvement.

Police handle the inquiry and Ted is asked to leave

Police do not suspect foul play and ask Ted to leave the hotel. Ted is escorted off the premises, feeling unsettled as the inquiry begins. The situation shifts toward private help as Ted considers other options.

Private detective Traynor enters the case

A private detective, Gaylord Traynor, follows Ted after he leaves the hotel and offers his services to locate Alice. On the drive back to the city and at Ted's apartment, Ted tells Traynor the story of how they met, and Traynor hints that Ted may have been conned. This sets up a tense collaboration with a dubious ally.

Traynor targets the marriage certificate

Arriving at Ted's apartment, all of Alice's belongings are still there. Ted shows Traynor a photograph of Alice and then finds her marriage certificate. Traynor knocks out Ted, steals the marriage certificate, and leaves, revealing that he was working for Mr. Barkley to locate Alice and recover the document.

Ted learns about Alice's situation from Barkley

Ted tracks down Alice by the name of her husband from the marriage certificate. The husband, Mr. Barkley, explains that Alice has spells that cause her to forget who she is and that she is being held against her will, and then escapes. Barkley offers to let Ted speak with Alice so he can hear from her own mouth that she is still married.

Alice is being kept by the Barkley in-laws

After Ted leaves, it becomes clear that Alice is being held against her will by her in-laws. They are keeping her captive to prevent her inheritance of the Barkley estate. The in-laws' interference casts doubt on Alice's supposed 'spells' and frames the core conspiracy.

Passport reveals she’s new to the country

Ted returns to his car and finds Alice's passport in the glove box. He discovers she has only been in the country for a few weeks, not the years Barkley claimed. This revelation strengthens his resolve to prove Barkley is lying.

Ted confronts the Barkley grounds and learns the rest home fate

Ted goes back to the Barkley house and is attacked by a dog. The groundskeeper explains that the family has left for good and has placed Alice in a rest home because her spells have worsened. Ted also learns the name of the doctor treating her.

Traynor uncovers a fake husband and hospital showdown

Mr. Traynor continues his investigation and finds a picture of Alice with her husband, but the man in the photo is not Barkley. Ted goes to the hospital where Alice is being held and finds her just as the in-laws arrive to finalize financials with the doctor. Traynor arrives with the police, exposing the true story.

Truth surfaces and Barkley’s plan is exposed

The evidence gathered by Traynor and the police exposes Barkley and the in-laws' manipulation surrounding Alice and the estate. Ted learns the full truth about her captivity and their precarious situation. The scheming is unmasked, paving the way for a resolution.