hugh (macdonald carey) and miriam halsworth (claudette colbert) are in the final stages of their divorce procedure. miriam wants to separate because he's addicted to gambling - although he often wins. she's living with her daughter barbara (barbara bates), her son-in-law jerry denham (robert wagner) and her little grandchild. hugh, who's living at the hotel where he works, makes a fuss with the gardener about his rosebushes.