A year ago, Mr. Sloane lent Ralph the money he needed to develop and market a new invention, in return for 50% of the profits. Now Sloane calls Ralph to ask for his share, but Ralph has spent all of his earnings on his attractive, materialistic wife. When Sloane insists on payment, Ralph kills him in a park and takes his wallet, expecting to recover the IOU he had written. But the murder is witnessed by a vagrant, who also recovers the IOU in Sloane's cigarette case. The vagrant and a friend come to confront Ralph, demanding heavy payment in return for their silence.

A dead man is found in the basement of a theater, and a detective comes to investigate. He learn that the deceased had been seen near the theater asking for Fabian, the ventriloquist. As the detective questions Fabian in his dressing room, a voice comes from the box in which Fabian's female dummy is stored. When the dummy, Riabouchinska, continues to talk, the detective is annoyed, thinking that the ventriloquist is trying to be funny. But the detective humors him and 'talks' to the dummy, and he soon learns about a web of tensions involving Fabian, his wife, and his manager. Much of the tension concerns the dummy - and there is also a connection with the dead man.

Elderly Monica Laughton greets the milkman, and tells him that another relative of hers has passed away. The milkman then stops at a cafeteria, where he discusses Miss Laughton's wealth and eccentricity with the man at the counter. The conversation is overheard by Frank Bramwell, who then plans to visit Miss Laughton with his wife, so that they can rob her. When they reach her home, they are shown into an empty parlor, where she introduces them to a number of imaginary relatives, and shows them an open, empty coffin. Fearing that she is insane, Lorna Bramwell wants to leave, but Frank sees the situation as an even better opportunity than he'd hoped for - and he is not above using force to get what he wants.

Paula Hudson purchases a mink coat on a tip from her hairdresser. She later finds out it is stolen. The police question her and she says she bought it from a fashion model. When the police question the hairdresser and the model, both deny any knowledge of the fur. Paula later meets with a man to discuss the fur. She discovers that he is the man who stole the mink. He know wants it back. Paula refuses to give it to him. Later, the police tell that they have arrested the thief and his two accomplices: the model and the hairdresser.