Rita (Ann Sothern) has known George (Kirk Douglas) since childhood; it seems they have been destined since birth to be together. Their universe is fitted as closely as water to a shore. Married seven years ago and parents of toddler twins (who we never see), the Phipps are what Addie Ross would suggest as up-and-comers, two career-minded children who have grown up together and now with children of their own...
Addie Ross (narration): Rita and George Phipps are on their way up, that is, if Rita has her way. and that's the only way she'll have any part of, thank you. There she is now, ready, waiting -- that's Rita.
RIta is very married to George, a high school English and drama teacher. He loves his profession of teaching as much as Rita enjoys the nice paycheck from her career of radio script writing of "noble-women-as-the-hero dramas" with scripts she writes at home and sends off to the radio network weekly.
Rita is organized, industrious, detail-oriented, clever, quick-witted and she has an uncanny knack for sizing up other people and do it with a detachment that makes you think she would make a great writer. She must be a pretty good one, for she has more pithy quips, whether she is speaking of her job, observations of her friends, or her sponsors, or Addie Ross. Rita saves her best wit when speaking about Addie. No love lost there. Of the three wives, Rita appears to have Addie's number. Rita has never been impressed with the ethereal perfection of Addie Ross.
While at the Children's Home outing, Rita's memory drifts to wondering why George suddenly left the house that morning in his new blue suit? Where was he going?
Rita's flashback has different roots; it's only the might before.
Having the sponsors at the Phipps' home for dinner. Rita, for all her ambition which she gives a fine argument, has so many irons in the fire that she cannot keep up with George's birthday to remember. George is remembered on his special day by Addie, however. If Rita wasn't so preoccupied with serving the perfect dinner to the sponsors, she may have been angrier at herself forgetting it was George's birthday, but she will save the fury for later when she will mis-direct it toward George. George is proud of his wife's success, although he will see a side of radio's business that will turn his stomach and bring he and Rita to an argument after the guests leave. She will let her resentments out as ammunition as she is stressed out too. Advertising is an irritant and it's difficult to stay detached about Addie Ross when worn down by irritations. That's her weakness-- don't push her buttons. Will Rita's caring of others help her to survive this day?
Rita is a fine observer of human nature. We see it with her exchanges with Deborah, Lora Mae, and the Phipps' cook, Sadie (superbly portrayed by Thelma Ritter in an uncredited role). She only falls down on the job when the stresses of the advertisers push her buttons. Then she becomes the sychophant to the sponsors who underwrite her radio show. Rita becomes the pretense that she abhors. But she is empathetic to a fault, where she will absorb the attitudes of those around her when stressed out.
Has Addie put one over on Rita? Are Rita's buttons being pushed again?
Who were the Bickerson's, you say? A previous generation's barbed-tongued couple who started on radio.