Henry and Clarice Wilkins have been married twenty-three years and are a model suburban couple who have never had a quarrel. But when their daughter,Peggy, and her husband, Bill Trask, have a squabble, Clarice has a plan to show the daughter just how distasteful domestic bickering appears; She enters into an agreement with Henry that they will fake a fuss to serve as an object lesson. Clarice`s will to play the game and her sense of humor play out at about the same time when Henry`s remarks become more pointed as the charade goes on. Their fake fight is soon a real barn-burner.