Summary : I am a woman

Laura Landon flees her oppressive, domineering father Merrill Landon in Chicago on a rainy January night, taking a train to New York City to escape his emotional cruelty and find independence. Having studied journalism to appease him without a direct confrontation, she refuses to return to school despite his violent tantrums and painful reminders of a past drowning accident. Determined to build a life entirely separate from her father's journalism circle, she avoids newspapers and eventually secures a temporary secretarial job with a prominent radiologist named Dr Hollingsworth. The medical office proves to be a welcoming environment filled with kind staff, including Dr Hollingsworth and two young medical assistants named Dr Carstens and Dr Hagstrom. Wanting to escape high hotel costs, Laura asks her friendly fellow receptionist Jean Bergman about finding an affordable apartment in the city. Jean connects her with Marcie Proffitt, a divorced young woman looking for a roommate to share a rundown penthouse apartment located near West End Avenue. Laura braves a decrepit elevator and a dark, eerie hallway before stepping onto the rooftop, where she instantly falls in love with the glittering view of the city below. Inside the apartment, she meets Marcie, whose striking beauty and impulsive, intimate charm immediately captivate her. As they share a meal of vegetables and hamburgers, Marcie casually discusses her ex-husband Burr, who relentlessly pursues her and wants to remarry despite their constant arguments. Despite the noisy plumbing and cramped living conditions, Laura feels a genuine connection with Marcie and recognizes an opportunity to finally establish her independence away from her past. When Marcie asks if she thinks she can stand the apartment and the tight bedroom space, Laura readily agrees to move in. They joke about their contrasting personalities, and Marcie happily accepts Laura as her new roommate to begin their life together.

Laura and Marcie settle into a peaceful domestic routine together while Jean is away on a European tour. Working at the office alongside the doctors, Laura takes great pride in learning new skills and gaining confidence. At home, she and Marcie enjoy a calm and friendly relationship free from typical roommate drama. Marcie is slightly amused by Laura s old-fashioned shyness and bookish nature, while Laura feels a quiet satisfaction in her simple affection for Marcie, careful not to let deeper complications arise. The quiet atmosphere is shattered when Burr, Marcie s powerfully built and zealous ex-husband, unexpectedly arrives at the apartment. Burr immediately focuses all his attention on Marcie, pulling her into a passionate embrace that leaves Laura feeling awkward and out of place. A volatile and loud argument erupts between Marcie and Burr, featuring playful bickering, name-calling, and a physical scuffle involving a wet dishcloth. Although the couple seems to thrive on this chaotic dynamic, it fills Laura with a profound sense of revulsion. Burr eventually turns his attention to Laura, dragging her into the conversation by asking about her background in Chicago and her newspaperman father, while making unsettling remarks about her relationship with Marcie. Overwhelmed by the tension and her growing discomfort, Laura retreats to the bedroom to take a bath and try to calm her racing thoughts. Examining her reflection in the mirror, she contemplates her body, her past capacity for love, and her conviction that she is simply not made for romance. She reads a book in bed and eventually drifts into a restless slumber while listening to the faint sounds of the couple continuing their turbulent interaction in the kitchen. Hours later, muscle cramps awaken Laura, and she realizes that Burr has finally left and the kitchen lights are off. Marcie breaks the silence of the night by whispering to Laura and asking her if she was ever in love. Overcome by a wave of painful emotion, Laura confesses that she once experienced love, describing it as a mixture of occasional paradise and mostly hell. After Marcie offers her warm sympathy and remarks that Burr likes her, the two roommates say goodnight. Marcie quickly falls back asleep, but Laura remains awake for the remainder of the night.