Vera, the Medium

A young woman supports herself by giving public and private exhibitions purporting to read minds and contact spirits, and her performances attract both curiosity and newspaper attention. She encounters a district attorney who recognizes her from an earlier courtroom moment in which he secured mercy for a desperate defendant she recalls with gratitude; that connection complicates their professional and personal exchanges. Parallel episodes involve an aging, wealthy man and the intrusive press that follow his decline. Through scenes in parlors, courtrooms, newsrooms, and on stage, the narrative probes the boundaries between performance and sincerity, public spectacle and private need.