Please Don't Touch Me

As she is walking the trails of a large park, fifteen-year-old Viki Caron is followed by a man who grabs and attacks her. Years later, Viki, now newly married to Bill Edwards, is having difficulty in her marriage because she cannot stand for Bill to touch her, even though she loves him very much. Her controlling mother, who takes pride in the fact that she is still attractive and young looking, suggests that Viki have her marriage annulled or obtain a divorce. Because Viki insists that she wants the marriage to work, Mrs. Caron suggests that Viki speak with Dr. Warren. That night, after Viki dons the provocative nightgown and negligee that Bill has bought for her with money he planned to use for new seat covers for his car, he wants to make love. Viki quickly becomes anxious and tells Bill that she has a terrible headache. Though sympathetic, Bill remarks that her headaches seem to be very frequent lately, especially when he wants to make love. After Bill discovers that they are out of aspirin, Viki asks him to go to the market to buy more. While he is out, Viki packs and leaves for her mother's house. Later, when a worried Bill phones Mrs. Caron, she says that Viki is fine but heavily sedated and suggests that she needs some time away from him. She also reveals Viki's rape. The next day, Viki and her mother visit Dr. Warren. During their talk, Warren suggests the possibility that Viki's rape may be related to her present frigidity. Sensing that Mrs. Caron's controlling nature is also part of Viki's problem, he asks to speak with Viki alone. By use of an electronic device that measures emotions, Warren deduces that Viki does love Bill but that memories of her attack, which have become more frequent, are causing her to fear sexual intercourse. Viki cannot remember details of her attack and reveals that she never saw a physician afterward because her mother did not think it was necessary. Warren then asks Viki if she would return that afternoon and undergo a session with renowned hypnotist Ormond McGill. Just then, Bill arrives at the office, worried about his wife. Warren speaks with Bill and tries to determine when Viki's frigidity began. Bill then relates that Viki had been affectionate before their marriage but turned very cold on their wedding night, just after he turned out the light in their bedroom. During the afternoon session of hypnosis McGill asks Viki to reveal the details of her rape but finds that, even under hypnosis, most details of the attack are unclear and that the only thing she remembers is what was told to her after a man found her and took her back to her friends. With repeated attempts at questioning Viki and asking her to recount memories from the day of her attack, McGill and Warren are able to determine that Viki's attacker was interrupted by an older man who heard Viki's screams and came to her rescue. Her attacker left the scene before he was able to rape her. Viki only thought she was raped because of what the older man and her friends told her and because her mother said that she had been raped. When Warren and McGill talk privately, they surmise that the rape was only attempted but that Mrs. Caron has been reinforcing Viki's belief that the rape had actually taken place. In a second session of questioning under hypnosis, Viki reveals that her frigidity toward Bill started when he turned the lights out in their bedroom and she felt his ring rub against her cheek, reminding her of a ring her attacker had worn. When Viki awakens and learns what has happened, she and Bill are relieved. Bill removes his ring, promising never to wear it again. After Warren sends Viki and Bill home, he counsels Mrs. Caron, telling her that she has been too controlling and that Bill and Viki need time alone, without her interference. Some weeks later, when Mrs. Caron finally calls Viki and Bill, she learns that they are very happy and plan to start a family. After the phone call, as Viki and Bill start to make love, she tells him to turn out the light.