Escape to Burma

At the royal palace in Sakar, Burma, Capt. C. J. Cardigan of the Security Office reports to the Sawbwa, whose son was recently shot to death in the jungle, that the killer has been identified as Jim Brecan, the prince's American business partner. Although the Sawbwa wants Brecan captured and executed, Cardigan, who is British, insists that he be tried legally once he is caught. Cardigan suspects that Brecan will seek refuge with Gwen Moore, a fellow American who runs a teak plantation, and heads for her place. Meanwhile, in the jungle, Brecan eludes the Sawbwa's armed men and slips into Gwen's house. When Gwen sees Brecan helping himself to her liquor, she is surprised but invites him to stay. Posing as a drifter named Jim Martin, Brecan quickly ingratiates himself with the elephant-loving Gwen, helping her to track down a tiger her superstitious workers believe is an evil spirit. Brecan shoots the tiger as it is about to attack Gwen, then, while camping that night, kisses her. Later, at Gwen's house, Brecan surreptitiously breaks her radio and shoots at an intruder who has been spying on him. After Brecan speculates that the man was trying to steal a bag of rubies he possesses, Gwen puts the jewels in her safe. The next day, as the locals engage in a new year's celebration, Cardigan arrives at Gwen's, claiming to be an elephant buyer. Cardigan questions Brecan and makes note of his gun, a Luger, the same type of weapon used to shoot the prince. While Gwen shows Khartoum, one of her elephants, to Cardigan, Brecan rifles through the officer's suitcase and finds his identification badge. Gwen soon deduces that Cardigan knows nothing about elephants and demands to know why he is there. Cardigan reveals his mission, explaining that he has the bullet that killed the prince and wants to match it against the bullets in Brecan's gun. Gwen, who has fallen in love with Brecan, refuses to believe Cardigan and orders Khartoum to pin Cardigan against a tree to prevent him from pursuing her lover. Cardigan draws his gun on Brecan as he is about to flee on horseback, but Brecan fires back, hitting Khartoum's leg. Although Brecan escapes into the jungle, Cardigan is able to extract the bullet from Khartoum. Gwen grabs Cardigan's gun, but after he takes off after Brecan, she instructs a servant to find Brecan and beg him not to kill the unarmed officer. Soon, however, Gwen becomes overwhelmed with concern and rides into the jungle to find Cardigan. As soon as she discovers that Cardigan has a second gun, she abandons him in disgust and races to warn Brecan. Cardigan follows Gwen and, at gunpoint, arrests Brecan. On the way back to Sakar, the three stop for the night at a deserted house. While they are sleeping, several bandits rush in, free Brecan and tie up Gwen and Cardigan. When one of the thieves tries to molest Gwen, Cardigan objects loudly, and Brecan fights the bandit to keep him from killing the officer. After the thieves scatter, Brecan unties Gwen and Cardigan, takes the two Luger bullets from Cardigan and disappears. Later, at the palace, one of the bandits, who was captured by police, shows the Sawbwa a watch he stole from Brecan, which had once belonged to the prince. Bent on avenging his son, the Sawbwa sends his guard into the jungle. There, as a monsoon rainstorm erupts, Gwen and Cardigan seek shelter in another deserted house and discover Brecan. The three spend an uneasy night together, and the next morning, Cardigan jumps Brecan, knocking his gun to the floor. As they fight, the guardsmen ride up, and Brecan takes off on his horse, heading for Gwen's. Cardigan and Gwen follow, and soon the three are exchanging gunfire with the guardsmen at Gwen's house. When the house is stormed and Gwen injured, however, Brecan gives himself up. Soon after, a young boy, who earlier had been trying to see Brecan, gives Cardigan a letter written by the prince. The boy explains that the prince entrusted him with the letter before dying from a serious illness. Now unsure about Brecan's guilt, Cardigan and Gwen hurry to the palace, arriving as Brecan is being whipped by the Sawbwa's men. As the Sawbwa listens, Gwen reads aloud the prince's letter, which reveals that the prince had contracted the plague and had sequestered himself to prevent its spread. The Sawbwa orders Brecan be brought to him, and Brecan explains that he was forced to shoot the prince because, at the end, he became wild with delirium and was about to enter a village and infect people. After the Sawbwa vindicates Brecan, Cardigan frees the American and returns his rubies. Brecan, in turn, gives the rubies to the Sawbwa and looks forward to a happy future with Gwen.