A young woman seeks independence from her protective mother, only to be questioning her own sanity when newfound friends die, and her mother suggests she is the cause of their death.

On a hot summer day, a young man from Philadelphia goes for an afternoon dip; when he is 40 feet from shore he gets attacked and dies; five days later, the Bell Captain at a popular beachside resort is also attacked.

A detective on a mission to solve murders around town struggles with racism and his jealousy over his best friend's new love life.