Part of the American Film Theatre series, this adaptation of Eugene O'Neill's play takes place in 1912 at a shady New York bar, where Hickey (Lee Marvin) turns up annually offering free drinks and lively stories to the dismal crowd. This year, Hickey surprises when he arrives sober with a new stance on life. Hoping to liberate the bar's regulars from their meaningless existence, Hickey instead begins questioning his newfound principles.