The Killer Is Loose

Upon encountering Leon Poole in his current position as bank loan manager, Otto Flanders recognizes him as the corporal from his war unit whom he used to call "Foggy" because of Poole's bumbling mannerisms. Poole, who is not pleased to see his old sergeant, is distracted by a robbery taking place at the back of the bank. When the thief pulls a gun and runs out the front door, Poole tries to stop him and is knocked out. While Flanders is questioned by detective Sam Wagner and his partner, Chris Gillespie at the police station, he now praises Poole's courage. Later, Sam, Chris and Sgt. "Denny" Denning monitor a wiretap, on which they hear the robber calling his accomplice. They trace the call to Poole's apartment and attempt to enter. Poole has barricaded the door, however, and shoots at them, prompting Sam to break down the door and enter shooting. When Mrs. Poole steps out, Sam, and who had been told she was not in the apartment, accidentally kills her, and Poole cradles his beloved wife in his arms. At the trial, Poole is sentenced to three, concurrent, ten-year prison terms, and upon being led out, glares at Sam's wife Lila, and vows to get revenge. A few years later, the jail warden rewards Poole's exceptional good behavior by transferring him to a state honor farm, where he works in the fields. After a short time there, a guard, believing Poole to be a model prisoner, assigns Poole to accompany him on a special trip into the city, not realizing that Poole has smuggled a handmade weapon into his uniform. Poole kills the guard as they drive on a deserted road, then finds a nearby farmhouse, where he murders the inhabitant and steals his clothes and truck. Soon, Sam, who has recently taken a desk job at Lila's insistence, learns of Poole's escape, but scoffs when the police consider him a prime target for Poole's vengeance. He tries to shield his pregnant wife from the truth of Poole's disappearance, but she guesses, and once again urges him to quit police work for his own safety. As soon as Denny and another officer arrive to guard Lila, Sam goes to the office, where Chris fills him in on the details of the manhunt, which is now focusing on the store from which Poole stole a gun the night before. Despite a city-wide roadblock, Poole gets through using false identification, and later in the day, Sam learns that Poole's first cellmate has revealed that the convict used to talk incessantly about killing Lila. Now convinced that his wife is Poole's target, Sam suggests that he serve as "bait" to lure Poole into the open. Sam proposes that they hide Lila at the Gillespie's house while he remains home alone with only a covert contingent of police watching the house. Sam's superior is proud of him for suggesting the plan, but Sam is worried about getting Lila out of the house without arousing her suspicion that she is in particular danger. To that end, he proposes that they take a vacation and asks her to pack bags for them. Once in the car, however, she deduces that they are headed to the Gillespies', and there, despite the warm ministrations of Chris's wife Mary, Lila realizes that Sam is returning to the house alone. Frustrated, she gives him an ultimatum: leave town with her now or she will abandon him. After failing to convince her that he cannot leave the most dangerous work to other men, Sam departs sadly. Meanwhile, Poole, exhausted and hungry, buys a raincoat to cover his farming clothes and wanders to Flanders' house. There, he finds Flanders' wife Grace, who recognizes him and tries to run, but he forces her to prepare him food. While waiting for Flanders to return, Poole recalls how the sergeant humiliated him during their assignment in the South Pacific. Flanders comes home soon after, and upon noting Poole's fatigue, tries to persuade the convict that he is too weak to continue. Poole, declaring that his wife was the only person ever to believe in him, shoots Flanders, causing Grace to collapse. Poole then takes Grace's raincoat and the family car and drives toward Sam's. At the same time, Mary finds Lila packing to leave and, angered, reveals that Sam is only trying to protect her from Poole. After Mary reprimands Lila for thinking she is better than any other policeman's wife, Lila rushes to return to Sam's side. Unable to find a taxi, she boards a bus, but is frightened by all the men onboard. Sam, who is communicating via radio with Denny and Chris's nearby surveillance teams, soon hears that Lila has disappeared and Poole has killed Flanders. The police update him on every pedestrian and car that passes by. When Poole, whom they believe to be a woman, walks down Sam's street but then disappears around a corner, Sam is suspicious, especially after Lila gets off the bus and is spotted approaching on foot. Denny cannot tell if the second woman is Lila, but soon the first "woman" begins tailing her, and Sam is sure that Poole is stalking his wife. However, if the police shoot at Poole and miss, he will have a clean shot a Lila, so Sam orders them to do nothing until she reaches his house. He prays that she will walk by the house so Poole will come in alone, and Lila does pass the front door, but when she then runs into the driveway, Poole jumps forward, and Chris's men come out of hiding with guns blazing. Moments later, Poole is dead, and Sam leads Lila back into their home.