The professionalism and even sanity of the institution's director, Roote, are undermined by his subordinates: the efficient and ambitious Gibbs, the aptly named alcoholic Lush, and Miss Cutts, Roote's calculating and shrewd mistress who is also involved with Gibbs.
The institution's director, Roote, faces challenges to his professionalism and sanity due to his subordinates: the diligent and ambitious Gibbs, the aptly named alcoholic Lush, and Miss Cutts, Roote's shrewd and manipulative mistress who is also romantically linked to Gibbs.