Webb Garwood, a malcontent policeman,responds to the report of a prowler at the home of Susan Gilvray, thediscontented wife of a late-night radio-show host. Nothing is lurking but theirown shared desire for financial security. Sensing an opportunity to realize hismeager version of the American dream (to own a hotel so it will make money whilehe sleeps), Garwood rebels against the confines of their social lot. Shiftingfrom protector to predator, he plots the murder of Gilvray's rich husband, whosevoice on the radio confirms, "The cost of living is going up.""Trumbo's best joke on the blacklist was cooked up with Joseph Losey°.Loseycast Trumbo as the hapless husband°.He appears only once in the film, just as thecop is about to shoot him. (H)e pleads for mercy, then grimaces and keels over,mortally wounded." (TA) One of the Hollywood Ten, Trumbo wrote scripts underpseudonyms while blacklisted.