Plot:
Cornelia Van Gorder has rented a mansion to use while writing her newest book. Several of her servants are disturbed by the mansion, the Oaks, being the scene of a series
of gruesome murders the previous winter by the Bat. Numerous rumors about the Bat and rabid bats ensue.
Cornelia stops by the bank. She meets the manager, Vick Bailey, and his wife, Dale.
Lt. Anderson stops by, too. Vick learns that a million dollars in securities has been stolen from the bank. However, the bank president, John Fleming, and his doctor, Doctor
Wells, are on hunting trip and can’t be reached.
At the hunting cabin, this minute, Fleming reveals he embezzled a million dollar in securities and will blame it on Bailey. The money is in the Fleming family tomb. However, Wells
sees through this immediately. The cash is hidden somewhere in the Oaks. Fleming will split the cash with Wells if helps fake his death. The big concern is having a body that can be used for Fleming’s body. The hunting guide is about the right weight and height. With Fleming dead, all suspicion will fall on Bailey. Wells will go along with the plan or else. A nearby forest fire distracts Fleming. Wells busts a cap in him.
On a stormy night, at the Oaks, Cornelia learns that Bailey has been arrested for embezzlement. Dr. Wells has returned with the body of John Fleming, who was killed in a forest
fire. Lizzie, Cornelia’s maid and life partner, has heard many of the rumors about the bat from the servants. They hear a noise.
Investigating, Lizzie sees the clawed glove of the Bat. Cornelia and Lizzie run to call the police who will send a man to check things out. Our intrepid duo locks and barricades the
door Cornelia’s bedroom.
The Bat uses a glasscutter to get inside the house.
Cornelia rigs something above the transom over the door to warn them if someone tries to get in. Lizzie is about to get some of her things when she spots the Bat.
The police call and didn't find a single trace of the Bat.
While our duo have non-Sapphic dreams, the Bat uses the transom to let a bat into the bedroom. Lizzie freaks out when the bat bites her. Has anyone ever desired to see
Agnes “Endora” Moorehead run around in her nightgown?
Cornelia has to leave a messenger with Dr. Wells’ messenger service.
Lt. is skulking about and spies on Dr. Wells experimenting with a bat. Wells gets the messenger about Cornelia’s maid being bitten by a bat. He heads over there
immediately.
Lt. breaks into the Dr.’s lab and finds a giant bat statue.
I wouldn't think this was clue. Would you?
Wells arrives at the Oaks. He patches up Lizzie but still must examine the bat. Quickly, he is able to capture the bat. Cornelia escorts him out. Dr. Wells mentions that
Fleming would warn her to leave the house. Lt. arrives and finds the hole in the glass window.
In the morning, Lt. pays a visit on Mark Fleming, John’s nephew and heir. Apparently, John didn’t have any money. Lt. has to find the securities that were converted into
cash. Even with all the evidence pointing to Bailey, the Lt. continues to suspect John Fleming was involved.
Judy, a bank teller, and Dale Dailey, Vick’s wife, pays a visit on Cornelia. Wells stops by, too. Our mystery writer has a new group of servants. Judy saw something that
will come out in testimony. Cornelia hypothesizes Fleming has a secret room built when the Oaks was constructed. They call Mark Fleming for the floor plans.
Mark doesn’t have them but knows where they are in the Oaks.
Wells advises Judy not to mention about her testimony until at the trial.
Later, Mark lets himself in the mansion.
Cornelia, Dale, and Judy are talking about the Bat.
Mark gets to the plans and is killed by the Bat.
As Da Gurls continue chatting, the Bat gets away with the floor plans to the house. A little while later, Da Gurls discover a hidden door and the dead Mark. Lt. calls the
police about a homicide at the Oaks.
As everyone discusses where they were, Wells arrives to check Mark’s body. He is sure that the Bat is still in the mansion and warns Cornelia to leave.
Lt. questions the butler, Warner. He is unable to remember where he recognizes him. Lt. suggests that everyone all go to their rooms.
The crime scene guys and the mortician leave the mansion. Wells and the Lt. are the only ones not locked up.
Da Gurls call is a night. Judy and Dale head to their room.
Patrolling Lt. ensues.
Dale is worried about her husband in jail.
Bat cuts the phone cord and heads upstairs. He begins to pound into a wall.
Cornelia hears the ruckus and discovers the phone is dead. Lizzie, Judy, and Dale hear the ruckus, too. Dale thinks the money is in the house and could prove her
husband’s innocence.
Dale and Judy leave their room. Dale skulks up to the third floor. The Bat hides away from Dale and escapes. As the bat runs downstairs, he wounds and kills Judy. Cornelia
is able to throw a paperweight and nick him on the side of the head before he gets away.
Lt. returns. He went off tailing a man.
Warner returns to the house. Lt. finally remembers who Warner is a thief who was proved innocent at trial.
Warner claims to have followed the Lt. but was knocked out. Lt. accuses him of being the Bat.
Wells returns. His car broke down. However, everyone views him suspiciously for having a scratch on the side of his head.
Later, Cornelia is having Dale to transcribe the story. Lt. grilled Warner but wasn’t able to get anywhere with it. Cornelia kept up her own investigation and searched the
room the Bat searched and the one beside it.
The Bat is at work writing a suicide not when Wells walks in on him. Apparently, the Bat would pin the murders on Wells. However, the Bat doesn’t know where the money
is hidden. Wells does. While struggling, Wells is shot. The Bat leaves.
Cornelia is still searching the 3rd floor of the Oaks.
Lizzie hears a noise. Cornelia has gone missing. Lizzie awakens the cop on duty who is groggy.
Lizzie gets everyone ready. Davenport realizes someone drugged him. He calls the department to report Cornelia’s disappearance and learns the Lt. is out on case. Dr. Wells
was killed.
Cornelia is trapped in small secret room with a limited supply of air.
Warner has disappeared.
Lizzy, Dale, and Davenport search the 3rd floor for Cornelia. They are able to hear her pounding on the wall and barely get the door open in time to free Cornelia.
Bat is nearby.
Davenport realizes how to activate the controls and finds a safe in the secret room.
Cornelia learns that Dr. Wells is dead, and Warner is missing. The Bat sets the garage on fire. Cornelia knows the Bat is coming, and this will be the perfect time to trap him.
Bat heads to the secret room as the others hide in the background.
Bat heads to the secret room and safe.
Cornelia is right beside Davenport.
A gunfight breaks out with the Bat shooting Davenport.
The Bat is about to perforate Cornelia, Lizzy, and Dale. Suddenly, Warner arrives and shoots the Bat.
The Bat is unmasked to be revealed to be the Lt.
Cornelia has Dale transcribe the last of the story about finding the cash. The moral is you can’t hide murder.
