Barbara Booth is an up-and-coming film editor in 1930s Hollywood, haunted by memories of  an abusive relationship with actor, Ralph Stanley. As she is adjusting to a life free of Ralph,  she is commissioned to cut a new film that stars him as the main romantic lead. Ralph toys  with Barbara over the phone, using this film as another way of manipulating her. Barbara  cannot allow an audience to sympathise with Ralph’s character, so she decides to cut the film  in a way that depicts him as the villain. Barbara argues with her assistant about showing this  cut, but ultimately decides that the vengeance and her rigid moral code are worth potentially  compromising her career over. At the premiere, the audience love the new cut, filling Barbara  with joy and Ralph with anger. However, as Ralph looks around, he puts on a sinister smile.  He realises that even though Barbara may have “won” this battle, this will not hurt his career.  Barbara looks back at him in shock, she may have won this battle, but not the war.