Tight Spot 1955

Conley imprisoned; Hallett offers deal

Sherry Conley is imprisoned for a crime she did not knowingly commit. U.S. attorney Lloyd Hallett offers her a path to freedom if she agrees to testify against mobster Benjamin Costain. The deal comes with protection and a chance to start a new life, setting the stakes for what comes next.

Hiding in a hotel and the push toward testimony

Hallett hides Conley in a hotel and presses her to testify despite the danger. Conley stalls, weighing the risk against her freedom while the hotel becomes a tense backdrop for the decision. Room-service meals provide a mundane distraction as the choice looms.

Protection squad takes position at the hotel

A squad of detectives led by Lt. Vince Striker and the friendly matron Willoughby guard Conley, turning the hotel into a high-stakes fortress. The protection details establish a fragile routine beneath the surface of growing attraction between Striker and Conley. The danger outside the doors keeps their bond on edge.

Costain's reach extends to the hotel

Costain learns Conley's whereabouts through inside contacts and sends his thugs to kill her. The hotel becomes a battleground in a deadly game of witness protection versus organized crime. The looming threat forces the protection team to tighten their watch.

First assassination attempt; Conley wounded

The attackers shoot Conley in the arm, but Striker kills one of the assailants in the chaos. Willoughby is shot and seriously wounded, highlighting the cost of keeping Conley safe. The hospital tragedy confirms the stakes and urgency of the witness protection plan.

Striker abducted by Costain's men

As Striker exits the hotel, Costain's men force him into a car and drive him to Costain. It is portrayed as an abduction, but Striker is secretly a corrupt cop working for Costain. The betrayal destabilizes the protection arrangement and heightens the danger for Conley.

A second murder plot and the unlocked window

Costain orders Striker to help arrange another murder attempt and to leave the bathroom window unlocked for his killer. The instruction underscores the extent of the mob's control and the precariousness of Conley's position. The plan tightens the countdown to the hotel showdown.

Willoughby dies; Hallett and Conley reassess

Hallett tries to use Clara, Conley's unsupportive sister, to persuade her to testify, but the sisters argue and Conley remains uncooperative. A phone call interrupts Hallett, and they learn that Willoughby has died in the hospital. The death hardens Conley's resolve to testify despite the danger.

Conley accepts testimony; Striker's conflict

Conley decides to testify against Costain, closing the door on further hesitation. Striker, torn between loyalty and personal risk, initially tries to dissuade her but ultimately resolves to support the plan. The moral tension peaks as everyone commits to the courtroom showdown.

Hallett escorts Conley toward testimony

Moments before the killer arrives, Hallett returns to escort Conley from the hotel to the city jail and then to the courtroom. The clock ticks toward the moment she will take the stand, and the mob's threat remains imminent. The scene blends legal strategy with personal courage.

Striker's final act and sacrifice

In a tense confrontation in the hotel bedroom, Striker bursts in, shoots the killer, and saves Conley at the cost of his own life. The unlocked window reveals that he had set up her murder to spare her but changed his mind at the last moment. Conley and Hallett survive, but the loss weighs on the case.