Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren) obtains a job as a bookkeeper for Mark Rutland (Sean Connery)at his publishing company. Mark watches Marnie closely because he believes she stole $10, 000 from a client of his. Marnie is unaware that he suspects her and when she attempts to steal money from his safe, he catches her. But instead of turning her in, he is intrigued by her life as a thief and changing identities. He discovers she steals to give money to her mother. Challenged by her cold personality and trying to understand what caused such an addiction, he marries her only to discover her psychosis is much broader than being a thief. She cannot stand to be touched by him or any other man. Uncovering her past leads them to visit her mother Bernice Edgar (Louise Latham) with whom she has a strained relationship. Bernice explains to Mark what caused Marnie to become the person she is.