Act one opens to a bustling household around Christmas time located in Mesalia, Ohio in the 1930s. The main rooms staged indicate that it’s inhabitants are fairly well off and perhaps, fairly ordinary. There are people moving up and down stairs and opening and closing doors, greeting visitors anticipating Sheridan Whiteside’s arrival. When we meet Sherry, he is in a wheelchair due to a broken hip inflicted upon him while leaving the Stanley’s residence. Sheridan Whiteside is a famed radio personality and greatly regarded by many circles in society, namely Hollywood. He learns he is to be confined for up to six weeks in these strangers home. Meanwhile, we meet his right- hand lady, Maggie. She is witty and sharp tongued enough to keep up with Whiteside and his antics and can almost predict his schemes before he’s had the chance to see them through. Immediately he more than makes himself at home, making the Stanley family near fugitives in their own household. He takes over the library and living space and starts getting down to business, making trans-atlantic telephone calls and sending cables to everyone from Ghandi to Walt Disney. Needless to say, Sheridan Whiteside is less than thrilled his holidays will be spent in Ohio. Whiteside destroys the heirarchy of the Stanleys’, encouraging both of their children to run away, one to get married and the other to go on a photographer’s safari. Strange gifts start arriving from Sheridan’s various admirers along with many surprise guests, further aggravating the imprisoned family. In the midst of all this commotion, his beloved secretary begins to fall in love with a local newspaper man by the name of Bert. Afraid of losing her, Whiteside hatches a scheme to steal Bert away from Maggie with the help of his good friend and famous actress, Lorraine Sheldon. He baits her with a play that Bert has written in a part he describes as one of a lifetime for Lorraine. She arrives as a surprise to everyone but Whiteside. Maggie then, not to be outdone, arranges a prank phone call in which the prankster proposes to Lorraine in the voice of a Lord she wishes to marry. She’s ready to sail away on a cruise liner when suddenly, Whiteside becomes the wiser and exposes Maggie’s trick. Fueled by anger at becoming a laughing stock, Lorraine makes it her mission to ensure Bert becomes only a memory for Maggie. Finally, Whiteside relinquishes his selfishness and tries to find a way to rid the situation of Miss Sheldon, when quite conveniently, a mummy case arrives as a gift. Somehow, he fools Lorraine to step inside the mummy case. As the lid shuts, two delivery men usher her out. Whiteside’s sentence has finally been fulfilled and he is well enough make a grand departure from the Stanleys’. As he steps outside, a second crash is heard and Whiteside is brought back into the house with a broken hip.
Plot Summary:Act One, Scene One: opens in Stanley living room in Mesalia, Ohio, 1939, December:
*Stanley family, Miss Preen and servants run around frantically, readying the house for Mr. Whiteside. They welcome Mrs. Dexter and McCutcheon who have brought gifts and read a newspaper article explaining Mr. Whiteside's condition. Mr. Stanley enters, already annoyed with the changes in the household.
* Maggie enters before Dr. Bradley wheels Whiteside into the room. Sheridan announces his plan to sue the family for his injury, rejects the gifts from the women, and kicks the family out of their own living room. Dr. Bradley gives Whiteside his novel to look over as he and Miss Preen are ushered out as well.
* Maggie reprimands Sherry for his behavior and the two settle in for business as usual when they are interrupted by the strange sister, Harriet. Dismissing her, he continues to dictate various wires to Maggie. The phone rings and both of them delightedly talk with Banjo. Maggie then reads a telegram from Lorraine Sheldon and introduces her ill feelings toward the famous actress.
* Doorbell rings and Bert Jefferson enters, a local newspaper reporter who Whiteside initially tells to amscray. Persistent and charming Bert gains Whiteside's interest and tells him of a play he's written and the two hit it off. They are interrupted by scientist Metz, a surprise for Sherry, who brings him a cockroach hotel as a gift. Again, the doorbell rings and a prison guard toting three convicts enter to have lunch with Whiteside. Bert gains an invite as the curtain comes down.
Act I, Scene Two. A week later in the Stanley household where it is evident Whiteside has made himself more than comfortable:
*Opens with Whiteside trying to lure the Stanley servants away from them while he learns Maggie has gone out with Bert for the day from Miss Preen. Another encounter with Harriet leaves Sherry wondering how he recognizes her. Mr. Stanley enters, enraged at all of the visitors and ridiculous phone bill Whiteside has accrued and the fed up couple exit.
* June and Richard return from ice skating and as they turn to sneak up the stairs, Whiteside befriends them. They report that Maggie and Bert accompanied them at the ice skating rink.
* A smitten Maggie comes through the door much to Whiteside's disgust. She announces that she's fallen in love with Bert and when he learns of her plan to resign, his jealous rampage leads to a falling out.
* Maggie exits, furious, and Whiteside immediately dials Lorraine. While he awaits her to phone back, Dr. Bradley enters and explains to Whiteside that his hip is in fact, not broken and is free to leave. Whiteside promises to publish the doctor's book if he keeps quiet so he can complete his scheme.
* Lorraine calls back and Whiteside baits her with what he describes as the "part of a lifetime" in Bert's play, if she can only win over the director. She makes arrangements to hurry to his side, unbeknownst to Maggie. Maggie returns and apologizes for the fight and as she exits, Whiteside cheerily sings to himself.
Act Two:Scene is the same, a week later.Christmas Eve.
*The Stanley servants are admiring the presents under the tree while Maggie is getting ready for the Christmas eve broadcast.Bert takes Maggie to town for her Christmas present.
*Penguins arrive as a gift, and Whiteside encourages Richard to go off and pursue his passion for photography and seconds later, convinces June to elope with her boyfriend and the two children flee the house.
*Lorraine Sheldon arrives and dishes about Lord Bottomley, a man she wishes to marry. Whiteside informs her in order to win the part, she must win over Bert. The happy couple return from town and Lorraine gets to work quickly, securing a ride to the hotel from Bert.
* Maggie begins to suspect Whiteside's plot when Beverly Carlton's entrance interrupts them. They all happpily mock Lorraine and her Lord Bottomley. As Beverly leaves, Maggie pulls him aside and the two arrange a prank marriage proposal for Lorraine to send her back to England quickly without Whiteside being the wiser.
* Lorraine recieves the call from "Lord Bottomley" (played by Beverly) and is ecstatic, immediately making travel plans and sending cables of their engagement. When Sherry hears of this, his suspicions heighten and with a call to the operator, he exposes Maggie and her plan.
* Lorraine, humiliated and enraged, vows to Maggie that Bert shall not be hers much longer. Bert's more than obliged to make plans with Lorraine for a reading of the script when Maggie suddenly dashes out of the room as Whiteside's broadcast begins.
Act Three: Scene is the same, Christmas morning.
* Maggie finally comes downstairs and resigns as Whiteside's assistant,who won't hear of it.In the middle of their fight, a drunken Bert comes in, thrilled to announce that he and Lorraine will be working on the play together at her place in Lake Placid. Bert exits with the doctor and a teary Maggie takes refuge in the library.
* Banjo comes in to spend a bit of Christmas with Sherry. Whiteside explains the mess he's made of things with Maggie and the two plot of a way to call Lorraine off. Miss Preen resigns and the Stanley's, who have recaptured their children, inform Sherry of a warrant they have to remove him from the premises. Magically, an egyptain mummy case arrives as a gift for Whiteside just before he's being tossed out of the Stanley's.
* Whiteside convinces Lorraine to step into the mummy case to enrich her acting craft and Banjo slams the door closed. Thinking fast of how to get the mummy case to a plane, Whiteside finally recalls how he knows Harriet Stanley.
* He threatens Mr. Stanley to expose his sister, Harriet, as the infamous murderer she is and backed into a corner, Mr. Stanley consents to the remaining wishes of Whiteside. The mummy case is escorted out by the police and Whiteside stands up to make his exit. He gives reconciled Maggie and Bert his best wishes and leaves. Suddenly, a crash is heard offstage and Whiteside is rushed back into the house with a broken hip, mirroring the opening of the play.
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