El hijo (Anthony Perkins) del granjero Eben sólo espera el día en que pueda heredar las tierras de su padre, un tiránico viudo (Burt Ives). Pero cuando éste vuelve a casarse y anuncia que dejará sus posesiones a su nueva esposa, estallan las pasiones más encontradas a lo largo de una noche llena de furia y deseo entre Eben y su nueva madrastra (Sophia Loren).
During a ride with his new pony Sinoya, the young Clay Gibson by chance finds the secret housing of the multiple murderer Tris Hatten. He reports immediately to Sheriff Adams, who strongly recommends him not to tell anybody about it. Unfortunately Clay talks to his father nevertheless. He believes Adams just wanted fame and reward for himself and accuses him in the newspaper. Thereby he endangers his son, who's now targeted by a killer which Tris' girlfriend Winnie hired for revenge. Written by Tom Zoerner
