Jealousy

Janet Urban, a Hollywood taxi driver, reflects on the downfall of her marriage to European refugee Peter Urban, who had a successful writing career in his homeland before the war forced him to flee. One day, she gives a ride to David Brent, a handsome doctor, who immediately takes a liking to her. Later, she returns a locket he left in her cab, and he plays her a recording of a Brahms piece that they had discussed earlier. While she is at his house, he answers a telephone call from a woman he calls Monica, and assuming that she is David's wife, Janet leaves quietly. Meanwhile, Peter pawns his cigarette case and uses the proceeds to purchase a gun. After spending the evening drinking, Peter attempts to kill himself. Janet stops him, and although she realizes that her marriage is probably doomed, pleads with him to get a job. She then hides Peter's gun in her work locker. That night, Peter, Janet and fellow emigre Hugo Kral go out to dinner, and she returns Peter's pawned cigarette case. He angrily accuses her of trying to humiliate him in front of Hugo and proceeds to get drunk. His belligerent actions drive Janet from the nightclub, but as she leaves, she meets David, who offers to drive her home. Because Janet is so upset, David drives her to a diner. During their conversation, David reveals that Dr. Monica Anderson is not his wife, but his associate. Janet and David continue to meet secretly, and some time later, David confesses his feelings for Janet to Monica, who is secretly in love with him. Meanwhile, Peter, disturbed by Janet's sudden happiness, suspects her of having an affair and tells Hugo that she wants to get rid of him. Peter is elated by the offer of a translation job, but when he discovers that it was a recommendation and not his reputation that earned him the position, he angrily turns it down. That night, Peter meets Janet at work and insists that she drive them to the beach. There, he feeds poisoned food to the seagulls and implies that if she tries to leave him, he will kill her. Later, she retrieves Peter's gun from the locker, planning to use it to defend herself. The following day, Janet stops by David's office, where she learns that he is out of town. Monica then introduces herself and invites Janet to lunch. Another day, Peter follows Janet to Monica's house, where she meets David. Later David walks Janet to the bus stop, gives her his lucky charm locket and, secretly observed by Peter, kisses her. At Christmas, while decorating the tree with Hugo, Peter announces to Janet that he is going to sell the house and move with her to Mexico City where his new book will be published. During their subsequent argument, Janet asserts that she will leave him rather than move. When David tells Monica that Janet intends to divorce Peter and marry him, she becomes furious. On a shopping trip with Monica, Janet admits her fear of Peter. After lunch, Janet loses her purse, which contains Peter's revolver. Unable to find the purse, Janet returns home, where she discovers that Peter has been shot and killed. The police rule his death a suicide, but Monica goads Hugo into accusing Janet of Peter's murder. Janet is convicted of killing her husband and sentenced to twenty years in prison, but David, who believes her to be innocent, marries her the night before she is sentenced. When David tells Monica about his marriage, she faints, and David notices that she is wearing Janet's locket, which was in her lost purse. Monica then admits that she stole Janet's purse and used the gun to kill Peter, in the hope that, with Janet out of the way, she would have David to herself. In disgust, David walks away as Monica confesses over the phone to his lawyer.