- A private detective is hired to catch a serial killer who makes immigrant garment workers his victims.
- In April 1987, Marcia Mendoza (Laura Herring), a young Latin American woman, is murdered by her lover in a Los Angeles, California, motel room, after she threatens to reveal his secret.
The next day, lingerie designer Molly Field (Maura Tierney) and her boss, Mr. Bartoli (Jerry Orbach), discover that Marcia failed to report for work, while the girl's mother telephones private detective Nick Marnes (John Romo), begging him to find her missing daughter. Marcia's lingerie-clad body is discovered in the dumpster behind Mr. Bartoli's factory, and Police Lieutenant North questions the proprietor. When Nick Marnes arrives in search of Marcia, Molly points him to a body bag.
That night, as Bartoli employee Silvia Fuentes walks home with her brother, Nestor, they are confronted by two agents from the United States Department of Immigration. Nestor diverts the agents' attention, allowing Silvia to return home. Once she is inside, however, Silvia's neck is broken by an unseen attacker, who whispers, "You were always my favorite," as he dresses her body in lingerie. Nick arrives moments later, intending to question Silvia, and confiscates her diary in his search for evidence.
At lunch the next day, a seamstress expresses concern that her mother may be deported after facing scrutiny from immigration agents. Despite offers of "amnesty" from the federal government, Latin American families are fleeing their homes, fearing they will be unjustly deported.
Lt. North returns to the factory to inform Molly and Mr. Bartoli of Silvia's murder, and suspects that both victims were involved in a prostitution ring. Although he expects the killer to strike again, he admits that police will be unable to act until more evidence is available. Exasperated by North's inaction, Molly hires Nick to solve the case. Nick questions Nestor Fuentes, who reveals that his sister was involved in some kind of illicit activity, although she refused to divulge its nature. Nestor laments that he was evicted from the apartment following Silvia's murder and is now homeless.
The next day, Molly is invited to a birthday dinner at the home of her mother, Dorothy Field, who has arranged a date for her with David, an eligible lawyer. Molly anticipates disliking David, based on past experience, and asks Nick to pose as her boyfriend. As the evening progresses, David offends the party-goers with his boorish behavior, and Molly excuses herself for a romantic interlude with Nick. In the morning, Molly visits the detective at his office, and as they are about to kiss, two thugs appear, threatening violence. Nick employs martial arts to subdue the intruders, then makes love to Molly.
That evening, Bartoli employee Carmen makes a telephone call, informing someone that she will no longer be afraid of him. The following day, Nick maintains a vigil outside the factory as immigration agent Lapin has private conversations with Mr. Bartoli and a seamstress named Bing, who recently arrived from Central America.
Later that night, Molly and Carmen work late to repair a shipment of defective bras. When an intruder enters the building, Molly telephones Nick for help, but his car fails to start and he is forced to make his way on foot. By the time he reaches the factory, Carmen is dead and Molly has narrowly escaped. Unable to see her assailant in the dark, Molly gives a vague description to Lt. North, who considers Mr. Bartoli to be the prime suspect. Nick fears for Molly's safety and spends the night at her home.
The next day, Immigration Agent Lapin (Dennis Christopher) arrests one of Bartoli's immigrant laborers, despite the man's work permit, and directs a warning glance toward the seamstress, Bing. At Nick's urging, Bing reveals that Lapin has offered to grant her amnesty in exchange for sex, and threatens deportation if she refuses to comply. Nick accuses Lapin of sexual harassment, but the agent is certain that no court will take the word of an "illegal alien" over his.
That evening, as Molly and Nick read Silvia's diary, they discover that all three murder victims were eligible for citizenship, and intended to bring charges against Lapin. At that moment, the agent is observing them from outside. Later, Nick awakens for a late-night snack and is knocked unconscious by Lapin. The agent grabs Molly by the throat, and as her consciousness ebbs, Nick subdues Lapin and holds him at gunpoint.
Later, Molly telephones her mother to inform her that Lapin will likely receive a life sentence for his crimes. Anxious to take Molly to lunch, Nick ends the conversation by informing the talkative Dorothy that the building is on fire.
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Top Gap
By what name was Dead Women in Lingerie (1991) officially released in Canada in English?
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