I Walked with a Zombie

In the midst of a Canadian winter, nurse Betsy Connell will have a drastic change of scenery in accepting a job as private nurse for Jessica Holland, the wife of sugar plantation owner Paul Holland on the West Indian island of Saint Sebastian, Betsy not to meet either her employer or her patient until her arrival. That first encounter with Mrs. Holland will be an auspicious one. Officially, Mrs. Holland, who was afflicted with a tropical fever, is now in a zombie-like state a result, where she is conscious and seemingly understands things said to her, but shows no signs of response or emotion. Besides the Hollands, the only other person living on the estate, beyond the servants, is Paul's younger half brother, Wesley Rand, with their mother, missionary widow Mrs. Rand, living in town closer to her work. Because of her emotional connection to Paul, Betsy feels compelled to help Mrs. Holland recover in any way she can, which includes being dragged into the voodoo rituals of the island, many of the locals who see that voodoo both as a cause and a remedy to what afflicts Mrs. Holland. In the process, Betsy may get caught between the brothers, much like Mrs. Holland did, some rumors spreading around the island of that being the true cause behind what led to Mrs. Holland's current condition.