Widow Ida Blythe (Beatrice Straight) insists upon spending the weekend alone in her remote cabin, despite news that an escaped lunatic is somewhere in vicinity. Ida's tranquility is shattered by a visit from a strange young woman named Madeleine (Fay Spain), who not only appears to be obsessed with violence, but is also a compulsive liar. Suspecting that Madeleine is the fugitive lunatic, Ida knocks her down and makes her escape -- seeking assistance from another stranger, a soft-spoken gentleman (Donald Buka) with a few problems of his own. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi