Why Must I Die?

Singer Lois King, who travels tirelessly to enhance her resumé, auditions for nightclub owner Charlie Munro, winning not only the job but Charlie's heart. As her fame grows, Charlie repeatedly proposes, despite Lois' warning that her background is not as innocent as her demeanor. Undeterred by her gentle assertion that she does not love him, Charlie continues to press her to marry him, and Lois, knowing he is kind and loving, agrees to consider it. Days later, however, Charlie dies of a heart attack, prompting Lois to wonder if she is in some way cursed. She then looks for work with agent Morrie Waltzer, who is so impressed with Lois that he sends her to Kenny Randall, the owner of the nightclub The Cockatoo. Kenny is pleased with her performance, and within weeks, Lois is the star attraction. Unknown to Lois, both Kenny's attentions and her fame earn her the jealousy of cigarette girl Marge Brennan. Three months later, Kenny sets Lois up in a luxurious apartment, but continues to refuse to discuss marriage. At the apartment, she is visited by an unwelcome figure from her past: Eddie Rainey, the former partner of Lois' criminal father, Red. Eddie has brought his new partner, ace safecracker Dottie Manson, and the two threaten that unless Lois helps them rob The Cockatoo, Eddie will provide the police with information about the jailed Red that will keep him imprisoned for life. After stealing Lois' gun, they instruct her to procure the key to The Cockatoo and give the watchman a thermos full of drugged coffee. The next day, Marge complains to Kenny that he no longer calls her, and as he takes her in his arms to bid her goodbye, Lois walks in. Assuming Kenny and Marge are still involved, Lois storms out. That night, Eddie waits in the car as Dottie sneaks past the unconscious watchman and detonates The Cockatoo's safe. Meanwhile, Lois calls Kenny to confess, but learns that he is headed back to the club. He arrives just as Dottie is leaving, and Dottie shoots him, then runs off with the cash, leaving Eddie behind. Lois has run to the club and, finding Kenny dead, picks up the gun and murmurs "Kenny, I've killed you" just as the watchman revives. On the watchman's testimony and Marge's lies that Lois threatened to kill them, Lois is arrested for Kenny's murder. District Attorney Walter Dennison piles up the circumstantial evidence, including Lois' fingerprints on the gun, and determines to sentence her to death. Lois' lawyer, Adler, is impressed with her gentle nature, but despite his best efforts, Lois is found guilty and sent to the state prison. There, fellow inmate Peggy Taylor befriends her, until Lois is moved to death row. One night, the woman in the adjacent cell is electrocuted, and Lois shudders as the lights dim. Time passes and soon there are only two weeks until her execution. As Lois grows hysterical and talks to her doll, Dottie robs a liquor store, shooting a blind man when he interrupts the holdup. She is soon captured and although she will not admit to murdering Kenny, Dottie's crudeness and obvious lies convince Adler of Lois' innocence. Dottie is brought to the state prison, and when Lois sees her, she begs for the opportunity to confront her. They are allowed to meet in the warden's office, but there Dottie scoffs at Lois' pleas to confess her guilt. Lois is led out of the office, near collapse, but still hopeful that the police will find Eddie and exonerate her. Soon after, Red, recently released from prison, hears about Lois' plight and climbs the fire escape in Eddie's building to sneak up on him. When he tries to force Eddie to accompany him to the police, Eddie slips and falls to his death. Lois then learns that her last appeal has been denied and is served with the notice of her execution. Desperate, Adler petitions the governor for an appeal, but is denied. Outside the governor's office, he tells reporters that only God should have the right to take a life. On the day of the execution, Red shows up, hoping to see Lois, but last rites are already being administered. When the other inmates, led by Peggy, see the light go out in Lois' cell, they gang up on Dottie and force her to confess. Finally relieved of her guilt, Dottie cries that she does not want Lois to die and races through the prison to the execution room. As Dottie evades the guards, Lois is led to the chair. Finally, Dottie reaches the door and declares her guilt, but Adler informs her that she is too late, Lois has been executed. The governor declares that Dottie will pay for her crime, but Adler wonders aloud who will pay for the death of the innocent Lois King.