In Texas, Floyd is the owner of a decadent bar nearby the coast. He misses his wife Dorothy, who disappeared one year ago, and does not pay attention to the business, giving credit to everybody. His senile father-in-law The General lives with him demanding care. He has two employees, the former inmate of a mental institution Jimmy and the spinster Louise that has a love affair with him and has offered her saving to become his partner. Floyd has a huge tax debt and his pseudo-friend Charlie is forcing him to sell the place very cheap. However Louise finds that a bridge will be built soon and will increase the value of the bar.