Intrigue

A young woman who has a scarred face is conned into helping with the robbery of her employer. As a result, she is sent to prison, gets plastic surgery, and returns to seek revenge on those who wronged her.

A tragic car accident claims the life of six-year-old Emily Gilmore's father and leaves her permanently disfigured. Growing up in Silver Lake, California, Emily carries both the physical and emotional scars of that day. While her beautiful sister Sheila thrives on male attention, Emily lives in her shadow - friendless, loveless, and invisible. Their chain-smoking mother, once an aspiring actress now turned bitter recluse, discourages Emily's dreams of becoming a fashion designer, insisting she stay home and serve as a live-in maid while she spends her days watching black-and-white movie classics on television.

Emily finds limited solace working at an antique shop owned by the elderly Mr. Sturetsky, handling large cash transactions and keeping track of his heart medication. One day, a wealthy customer, Mrs. Berman, suggests Emily's face is bad for business. Mr. Sturetsky defends her, showing he values Emily not only for her loyalty but her compassion.

Emily's life takes a turn when Alec Dalton, a poetic deliveryman with a mysterious charm, enters the shop and praises her costume sketches. Emily confesses she is designing for a local production of Pygmalion. That evening, to her surprise, both Alec and Sheila attend the show. The play's director, Paul Mallory, secretly enamored with Emily, compliments her work and invites her to the cast party. Afraid of social situations, she declines, opting instead for coffee with Alec.

Alec is attentive and kind, showering Emily with compliments and ultimately giving her her first kiss. They begin dating secretly, as Emily fears her mother and sister's judgment. Meanwhile, Sheila is dating someone new but keeps it hidden, frustrated that he lacks the money to help her escape their home. Alec eventually takes Emily's virginity and proposes marriage. She accepts, believing she has finally found love.

But their happiness is short-lived. One night, Emily sees Alec being attacked. He admits he has lost his job and owes $25,000 in gambling debts. Desperate, he proposes they rob Mr. Sturetsky's antique shop. He insists they'll pay him back and that the shop is insured. Against her better judgment and out of fear of losing Alec, Emily agrees.

The plan falls apart when Mr. Sturetsky walks in on them. Shocked by Emily's betrayal, he suffers a heart attack. Alec flees with the money, but Emily stays with her boss, who survives. Arrested for burglary, Emily refuses to name Alec, still clinging to her love for him. In prison, she is almost attacked but rescued by Claudia Sherwood, a hardened yet kind cellmate. The two become fast friends. Emily survives behind bars by holding onto hope that Alec will come for her - despite the fact that he never visits, calls, or writes more than one postcard.

A visit from her mother brings devastating news: she's now suffering from smoking-related lung disease, and Sheila has run off with a man she barely knows. When her mother shows Emily a photo of Sheila and her new boyfriend, she is shattered to see Alec. Furious, Emily accuses her mother of knowing all along and storms out, vowing never to see her again.

Emily's rage manifests in a prison fight with another inmate, Rita, which leaves her further disfigured. Enter Dr. Matthew Sheridan, a volunteer reconstructive surgeon. He offers to operate on Emily, warning the results could leave her unrecognizable. Emily agrees, desperate for a fresh start.

The surgery is a stunning success. When released, Emily is nearly supermodel-beautiful. Grateful to Matthew, she begins dating him. He introduces her to his high-society world, and at a charity gala, he proposes marriage. But a socialite named Linda Blake warns her of something troubling. Linda leads Emily to a hidden shrine Matthew keeps of his deceased wife - a woman who looks exactly like the new Emily. Matthew only agreed to the surgery to make a living memorial for his dead wife.

Devastated by the revelation, Emily confronts Matthew and calls off the engagement. Claudia, now released, invites Emily to Los Angeles to start over. Adopting the name Adrian Corday, Emily reinvents herself - new hair, new makeup, new style. She vows to avenge everyone who ever hurt her and focus on building the fashion career she was once denied.

Through Matthew's social circle, she reconnects with businessman Joe Thomas, who is impressed with her portfolio. With his support, Emily launches her own successful fashion line. With newfound success, she returns home only to discover the house is up for sale. A neighbor, Mrs. Anderson, informs her - unaware of who she is - that Emily's mother passed away months ago. Wracked with guilt, Emily confesses to Claudia that her mother had dreams too, but lived vicariously through TV and never saw them realized. Emily swears not to make the same mistake.

One day, Paul Mallory reaches out to Adrian, hoping to hire her for a modern production of Romeo and Juliet. Though she no longer designs costumes, she agrees to the meeting upon hearing it's Paul. He does not recognize her. During their meeting, Paul confesses he once cared deeply for a designer he lost contact with and had tried to express his feelings to her. Emily, touched by his vulnerability, smiles.

Paul and Adrian begin dating. At the American Design Association Awards, Emily wins Newcomer of the Year. Her speech falters when she spots Alec in the crowd - but he does not recognize her. Claudia warns her to forget him, but Emily cannot. She re-engages Alec under her new identity, luring him in with mystery and confidence, keeping Paul at a distance.

Claudia investigates Alec and discovers he is now involved with a Las Vegas crime syndicate and repaid his debt. No trace of Sheila is found. Emily and Claudia concoct a plan: bait Alec with a fraudulent $3 million investment opportunity. Emily tells Alec they are $1 million short. Wanting to impress her, Alec agrees to supply the missing funds.

Their date is interrupted by Alec's alcoholic wife - Sheila. She accuses him of cheating again. Shocked, Emily visits Sheila and reveals her identity. Initially disbelieving, Sheila breaks down when Emily recounts childhood memories. They reconcile.

Sheila confesses she started dating Alec the night of the Pygmalion premiere. She never meant to hurt Emily and had no knowledge of the burglary. Though she now wants to leave Alec, she fears his wrath. Emily assures her it's time and arranges for her escape.

But Alec discovers Sheila packing and assumes another man is involved. He beats her until she admits Emily visited her. Furious, he confronts Emily at her studio. He threatens Sheila's life, unless he is let in on the investment scheme. He attempts to rape Emily, but she fights him off with a pair of scissors. He flees, vowing they are still "in business."

Paul, feeling increasingly shut out, confronts Emily about her secrets. She refuses to burden him and decides to handle Alec on her own. Disguised once more as her former self - with old clothes and visible scars - she lures Alec to the Beverly Palms Hotel with promises of a payout.

Alec, seduced by nostalgia, tries to rekindle things. Emily threatens him with a prop gun, but he overpowers her. Just then, Sheila arrives and shoots Alec, sending him crashing through a glass coffee table. He dies on impact.

Emily wipes the gun clean and urges Sheila to leave and say nothing. Sheila asks how Emily can forgive her. Emily replies that she already has.

Pretending to be a bystander, Emily hears a hotel clerk say that a scarred woman is wanted in connection to the murder. Paul shows up and apologizes for doubting her. Emily considers confessing everything, but Paul stops her. He says he already knows. Emily gently places his hand on her face, realizing he has always loved her- even with the scars.