Two sisters come together to spend Christmas with their families in their recently deceased parents’ falling down country house, with hilariously chaotic consequences, as ancient sibling rivalries flare up again to sabotage the hoped for season of good will.

Infatuated with the idea of becoming rich, college student Jonathan Corliss secretly dates Dorothy Carlsson to gain the approval of her wealthy father. When Dorothy tells Jonathan that she is pregnant and that her father will deny her inheritance if he finds out, Jonathan murders her, but he stages her death as a suicide. As Jonathan works his way onto Mr. Carlsson's payroll, Dorothy's twin sister, Ellen, investigates the apparent suicide.