It is Labor Day, and everyone is preparing for a neighborhood picnic. Since shy Millie does not have a date, neighbor Mrs. Potts suggests that Hal accompany her, much to the chagrin of Flo. Hal agrees, but he is much more interested in Madge. There is an undeniable attraction between the two, as much as they try to fight it. While getting ready for the picnic, the family and friends dance in Flo’s backyard to music playing nearby. Hal grows on each of the women, and they all vie for his attention. Several unfortunate things happen simultaneously: Millie gets sick from drinking too much whiskey while no one is paying attention. Hal accidentally offends Rosemary, the schoolteacher, who then screams at him, and Flo joins in criticizing him.
Hal sits in the shadows by himself while everyone leaves for the picnic. Rosemary and her boyfriend Howard decide to skip the picnic and go for a drive. Madge stays behind to change her dress. When she comes back outside and tries to console Hal, they kiss after a deep and revealing conversation. They run off together and spend the night in the car.
Howard brings Rosemary back to the house. As he leaves, Rosemary begs him to marry her. When Madge and Hal return, Madge is ashamed of what they did. Hal asks for one more kiss, and their “passion is revived”.[1] Madge breaks away and says that she never wants to see Hal again.
In the morning, Flo is frantic because she sees Madge crying hysterically. Rosemary leaves with Howard to get married, and everyone goes to the street to see her off. When Madge is left alone in the backyard, Hal shows up to talk to her. The others come back into the yard, and Hal is forced to leave. Madge finally admits that she loves him after he’s gone, and she enters the house crying. Alan leaves, and it is obviously over between him and Madge. A little while later, Madge comes out of the house with a suitcase and tells her mother that she’s going after Hal. The play ends with Flo watching her daughter leave.

　　在纽约布鲁克林区的公寓里，住着两名表面看起来十分和善慈祥的老太太，不料她们竟用自己酿制的毒酒杀了来访的一些孤独老头。此秘密让她们的侄儿加里·格兰特偶然发现，该怎么善后？
　　改编自百老汇舞台名剧，由名导演弗兰克·卡普拉于1941年拍成电影。因适逢二战开始，恐怕本片内容对世道人心有不良影响，故一直拖延到大战后期的1944年才正式公映。其实这只是一部构想奇特的黑色喜剧，本身并无什么毒性。本片在喜趣的背后道出了老年人乏人照顾的凄凉晚景：死亡是他们的最大解脱，而杀人竟成为一种善意的表示。故事主题颇具反省意义。