Madness in the Heart

A tale of fear. Near the border between North and South Carolina. On the stairs to the dance hall, Sailor Ripley brutally beats to death a Black man named Bob, who had attacked him with a knife. Bob was hired by Marietta Pace, who hates the Sailor – he is dating her daughter Lula.

Twenty-two months and eighteen days later, Lula waits outside the prison for Sailor Ripley, who is being released on parole, despite her mother's objections. They drive away in her convertible to a motel. Lula recalls how, at thirteen, she was raped by her father's business partner, who died in a car crash three months later. The Sailor remembers his confrontation with Marietta: he harshly rejected her when she propositioned him, and she set Bob on him.

In the evening, they go dancing together. Ripley attacks Lula's dance partner and then sings an Elvis Presley song with the band for the girl. The lovers decide to drive to California, even though doing so would violate the Sailor's parole.