Mrs. Amelia Tilford (Fay Bainter) is told a lie by her niece Mary Tilford (Karen Balkin) about two young teachers kissing each other. Their reputations are ruined, and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) is wrecked, though Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) gives her support.
Kevin Neece did a straight adaptation of the Lillian Hellman play straight off of the 1961 William Wyler remake in response to witnessing some of his friends fall victim to a malicious slander attack.