The Giddens’ house in Bowden, Alabama, 1900. House servants Addie and Cal and Regina’s daughter Alexandra (Zan) are singing with the Angel Band on the porch. Regina interrupts to remind Zan to get ready for supper. Mr. Marshall, who is forming a business partnership with Regina’s brothers, Ben and Oscar, will be the guest. The guests assemble and toast the new partnership after the meal. After Marshall leaves, Regina and her brothers exult over their prospective fortune and talk about how they will spend it. Oscar’s wife Birdie longs to return to her childhood home. Ben and Oscar complain to Regina that her husband, Horace, has not put up his share of the capital yet. Regina reminds them that he is in the hospital in Baltimore and suggests that he is holding out for a larger share of the profits. Ben agrees that Horace and Regina will get a higher share, provided the money is ready within a week. He notes that the extra money will come out of Oscar’s profits and suggests that Oscar’s son Leo should marry Zan. Regina promises to consider it. Zan and Leo return, and Regina instructs Zan to travel to Baltimore the next morning and bring Horace back. Zan is reluctant, and Regina upbraids her. Then she dismisses everyone. As Birdie leaves, she takes Zan aside and warns her that the family is plotting to marry her to Leo. Zan wonders about her future but says she will not marry Leo. As Zan goes upstairs, Oscar tells Birdie to leave with him. He slaps her for interfering with his plans as they exit.

One week later. As the house prepares for another party, Leo confers with his father. He tells Oscar that there are thousands of dollars’ worth of bonds in Horace Giddens’ safe-deposit box, and Oscar suggests obliquely that he steal them. Everyone is waiting for Zan and Horace to arrive. Addie sees them pull up and helps Horace, who has heart disease, into the house. He asks to be left alone as Zan goes upstairs. Horace asks Addie why he has been summoned home and Addie reveals that it is for his money. Regina, Ben, and Oscar come out to welcome him, then Birdie enters. Regina gets Horace alone and placates him, telling him that she had him come home because she missed him so. But soon they are quarreling again, and Horace realizes that Regina is up to something. He tells her that he doesn’t have long to live. Then Regina tells Ben to talk to Horace about the business proposition. For the first time, Horace understands why Regina had to bring him back, and he declines to be part of the partnership. He goes upstairs as Regina demands to talk to him; meanwhile, Ben, Oscar, and Leo exit after a whispered colloquy.  Leo goes off as Horace meets his lawyer and tells him he will draw up a new will. Marshall enters, and the party gets underway. Jazz, one of the servants and band members, comments on the party. On the veranda, Horace tells Regina he has not changed his mind. She is furious.  Leo enters with Horace’s bonds, and Ben and Oscar close the deal with Marshall. Regina accuses Horace of taking pleasure in her misfortune and declares that she wants him to die.

The next day. Addie, Zan, Birdie, and Horace are unwinding. Birdie recalls her childhood home. Zan exits with Birdie, and Horace tells Addie to take Zan away; he has left cash for her. Regina enters, and Horace explains that Leo stole the bonds; he goes on to explain that he will treat it as a loan and that he has left Regina the bonds in his will. She is furious and reveals that she never loved him. Then Horace has an attack and drops his medicine. Regina makes no move to get the other bottle, and Horace tries to run upstairs for it but collapses. Ben, Oscar, and Leo enter and realize that Horace knows what they did. Regina threatens them with jail; Ben remonstrates with her. Zan comes downstairs, and it is clear Horace has died. Ben and Oscar realize they have no recourse and concede. Zan comes in to tell Regina that she is leaving for good.