Maude is ecstatic when she discovers that Vivian is having a literary authority over for lunch. Maude had previously met him at a cocktail party and is dying to spend time with him. However, she is stunned and unable to come to terms with the fact that he can not stand her.

Mrs. Naugatuck takes a three week vacation to England and in the meantime, Maude hires an ex-con, Ambrose Riley, to do the housework. Soon Maude, Walter, Vivian and Arthur are scared to death when Vivian discovers that Ambrose served time for killing his previous employers.