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As a flight from Montreal lands at Kennedy Airport, Lisa, a fashion model asks commercial artist Sam Hendrix to hold a toy doll for her.  When the woman disappears, Sam takes the doll to his Greenwich Village apartment.  A short time later, hoodlums Mike Talman and Carlino arrive at Sam's empty apartment to keep what they think is an appointment with Lisa.  Instead, they are met by Roat, a master criminal skilled in disguise, who informs them that he has murdered Lisa for attempting a double-cross and that they must now dispose of her body and find the missing doll, which contains a fortune in heroin.

The following day, after Lisa's corpse has been removed to a nearby lot, the three man trick Sam into going to New Jersey, leaving his blind wife, Susy, alone.  One by one, the three hoodlums call at the house under false pretenses.  Finally, Carlino, in the guise of a detective, announces that he is investigating the murder of a young woman found in the neighborhood; by insinuation Susy is led to suspect that Sam is involved in the killing and the missing doll is the link.  Gradually, however, Susy begins to suspect that Roat and Carlino are imposters, and she appeals to Mike for help.

After he has left, Gloria, a little girl from upstairs who had taken the doll, returns it.  Believing Mike to be her husband's friend, Susy telephones him the good news; but with the help of Gloria, Susy learns that the number Mike gave her is for a telephone booth across the street.  Realizing that all three men are involved in the plot to get the doll, Susy sends Gloria to meet Sam, returning from New Jersey, at the terminal.

After the child has left, Susy discovers that her telephone line has been cut.  Mike arrives and, touched by Susy's plight, tells her the truth about Sam's innocence.  Roat, who has already killed Carlino, bursts into the apartment and murders Mike.  Terrified, Susy smashes all the light fixtures in a desperate attempt to even her chances against Roat.  When he opens the refrigerator door and turns on the small bulb, Susy grabs a kitchen knife and stabs him.  As he lunges after her, she hides behind the refrigerator and pulls the plug. Clutching the knife he was stabbed with, Roat inches toward her in the dark.  A few seconds later, Sam and the police arrive and find Susy in a corner with Roat lying dead at her feet.