Three relationship-centered crises unfold in the same hotel suite, exposing marital strain, unresolved desire, and family pressure.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
A Honeymoon Revisited
Sam and Karen return to their honeymoon suite hoping to recover their lost intimacy. Karen's reconciliation plan instead exposes the instability of their marriage.
Key Events
Suite 719 Introduced — All three acts are set in Suite 719 of New York City's Plaza Hotel.
Location: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Nash Couple Returns — Sam and Karen revisit the suite where they spent their honeymoon. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Karen NashLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Karen Plans Reconciliation — Karen hopes the familiar setting can restore love to their marriage. Characters: Karen Nash, Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Romantic Plan Falters — Karen's attempt to revive the marriage fails to produce the hoped-for closeness. Characters: Karen Nash, Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Affair Accusation Erupts — Karen and Sam argue over whether Sam is having an affair with Miss McCormack. Characters: Karen Nash, Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Miss McCormackLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Sam Leaves — Sam walks out, claiming urgent business requires his attention. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Karen NashLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Marriage Under Suspicion
The couple's attempt at renewal becomes a heated dispute about Miss McCormack. Sam leaves for alleged urgent business, leaving Karen to reflect on their changed relationship.
Key Events
Sam Leaves — Sam walks out, claiming urgent business requires his attention. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Karen NashLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Karen Reflects — Karen remains alone and reflects on how their marriage has changed. Characters: Karen NashLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Jesse Meets Muriel — Hollywood producer Jesse meets his old flame Muriel at the hotel. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Muriel TateLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Muriel Sets Boundaries — Muriel intends to have a brief chat between old friends and not stay long. Characters: Muriel Tate, Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Jesse Reveals His Intentions — Jesse's plans differ from Muriel's, as he seeks to turn the reunion romantic. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Muriel TateLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
An Old Flame Returns
Jesse Kiplinger meets Muriel Tate, who wants only a brief conversation between old friends. Jesse repeatedly tries to seduce her despite her stated intention.
Key Events
Repeated Seduction Attempts — Jesse repeatedly tries to seduce Muriel during their meeting. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Muriel TateLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Muriel Resists Pressure — Muriel's stated purpose remains a friendly conversation rather than renewed intimacy. Characters: Muriel Tate, Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Wedding Day Begins — The story shifts to Roy and Norma on their daughter's wedding day. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Bride Locks Bathroom Door — Their daughter locks herself in the bathroom and refuses to come out. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Bathroom, Suite 719
The Locked Bathroom
On their daughter's wedding day, Roy and Norma Hubley face a sudden refusal from the bride, who locks herself in the suite's bathroom. Their frantic pleading intensifies as guests wait downstairs.
Key Events
Bride Locks Bathroom Door — Their daughter locks herself in the bathroom and refuses to come out. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Bathroom, Suite 719
Parents Begin Pleading — Roy and Norma frantically try to cajole their daughter into attending the wedding. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Bathroom, Suite 719
Guests Wait Downstairs — Wedding guests wait downstairs while the family remains trapped in the crisis. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Downstairs area, Plaza Hotel
Wedding Crisis Escalates — The parents continue their frantic efforts as the daughter's refusal persists. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Fiancé Arrives — The daughter's fiancé arrives and becomes involved in the impasse. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Fiancé Talks Sense — The fiancé talks sense to the daughter, addressing the wedding-day refusal. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Bathroom, Suite 719
Wedding Impasse Breaks — The third act reaches resolution after the fiancé intervenes in the bathroom crisis. Characters: Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley, Norma HubleyLocation: Suite 719, Plaza Hotel
Story Breakdown
Shared Hotel Setting — The entire film uses Suite 719 at the Plaza Hotel as the setting for three separate stories.
Suite 719 — All three acts take place in the same Plaza Hotel suite.
Three Interconnected Acts — The film is divided into three acts with distinct couples and conflicts.
Nash Marriage Strain — Sam and Karen revisit their honeymoon suite while attempting to recover the love in their marriage.
Honeymoon Memory — Karen uses the former honeymoon setting as part of her reconciliation effort.
Failed Reconciliation — The attempt to restore intimacy backfires instead of repairing the marriage.
Infidelity Suspicion — The Nash couple's emotional distance becomes a direct argument about Sam's alleged affair.
Miss McCormack Mentioned — Miss McCormack is identified as Sam's secretary and the subject of Karen's suspicion.
Sam Walks Out — Sam claims urgent business and leaves after the heated argument.
Karen's Solitary Reflection — After Sam leaves, Karen remains in the suite and considers how their relationship has changed.
Changed Marriage — Karen reflects on the contrast between the present marriage and their newlywed past.
Emotional Aftermath — The first act closes on Karen's isolation after the confrontation.
Jesse Pursues Muriel — Jesse Kiplinger reunites with his old flame Muriel Tate and tries to make the meeting romantic.
Old Flame Reunion — Jesse and Muriel meet again in the Plaza Hotel suite.
Repeated Seduction — Jesse repeatedly attempts to seduce Muriel despite her limited intentions.
Wedding Day Lockout — Roy and Norma Hubley face a family emergency when their daughter refuses to leave the bathroom before the wedding.
Bride Refuses Exit — The daughter locks herself in the suite's bathroom and stubbornly refuses to come out.
Parents Plead — Roy and Norma frantically cajole her while wedding guests wait downstairs.
Fiancé Resolves Crisis — The daughter's fiancé arrives and talks sense to her, providing the decisive intervention in the final act.
Fiancé Arrives — The fiancé comes to the suite during the escalating wedding emergency.
Wedding Impasse Breaks — His intervention addresses the refusal that has kept the wedding party from leaving.
Film version of the Neil Simon play has three separate acts set in the same hotel suite in New York's Plaza Hotel with Walter Matthau in a triple role. In the first, Karen Nash tries to get her inattentive husband Sam's attention and help save their failing marriage. In the second, brash film producer Jesse Kiplinger tries to seduce his former one-time flame Muriel. In the third, Roy Hubley and his wife Norma try and persuade their daughter, a bride to-be with cold feet, out of the bathroom before her approaching wedding ceremony.
Directed by
Arthur Hiller
Key Cast
Walter Matthau — Sam Nash / Jesse Kiplinger / Roy Hubley
