After Karen McCaan (Sally Field) daughter Julie is brutally raped and murdered, The family was getting ready for a birthday party. While Julie was on the cell phone with her mom, Karen, who was out...

After Karen McCaan (Sally Field) daughter Julie is brutally raped and murdered, The family was getting ready for a birthday party. While Julie was on the cell phone with her mom, Karen, who was out picking up last minute things somebody breaks into the house. Julie dropped the home phone as the intruder rapes and murders her while Karen can only listen to the whole ordeal over the phone. She desperately tries to get home to help Julie but by the time she gets there Karen is gone. Karen has her suspicions as to who has done this and she goes to the police only to be turned down by the LAPD after she requests they keep suspect Robert Doob (Keifer Sutherland) in jail for good instead of paroling him. They don't listen to Karen so she takes matters into her own hands. She begins to stalk Robert. Everywhere he goes she is in tow watching him. He realises this after a time and wants Karen off his back. He makes another attempt at a woman who is having her groceries delivered, Karen was there to phone to police. Robert gets so angry that he decides to approach Karen's other daughter in the school yard. Karens husband Mack (Ed Harris), finds out what she is and gets her to stop. This only leads to Robert breakinh into the McCaan home to try to kill Karen.