Dur%ing a cross-count+ry lectur?.@e%. tour,)^^ n,#otorio^usly acerbic ra@#di.^o perso _nality Sherida+n Whit:= [eside slips on %the icy ste(ps of the house of the- Stanleys, a prominent$? Ohio f\amil!y, and is forc^^ed to rec[#uperate !^%i.=n their home d/uring th\ #e?\ Christma-s.#=? holid=ays. `-T
,]h =^e overbe_-!aring,_]= self-- ce?nter:@;ed celebrity so `*on comes to?*] domin!)ate the li ]ves of the resident(.?s _and everyone else who enters the househ\[.o^?+ld. He enco,\urages youn/g adults Richard and June S[/!tanley #_;to pur$sue t.%heir dre% /#ams, much to the=# +
dismay of their conve][@ntional fat`%
h[er Ernest.　　Meanwhile, :]Whiteside$#'s spinster ass[^ ?]ist]-#)a+$@++nt Maggi #\e Cutler fi )nds he$(rse=[$lf attracted__$ to
 local)] newspa pe (r[man B-er
t Jeffer)son. Wh+en sh$e reads_;) Bert's play, s* $h e is so i^*(mp $$ressed- she- asks%(;_ _Whiteside [to sh-$/`o)
 w it
.+t:o his c +.ontacts, a-` nd \then a^^n :
nounces
`+ she wil]!l quit his empl(\oyment and;!% m/*;ar_ry Bert. However, h]er [b,\os%s is loath to lose
_ such *_an efficien;t aide and does his bes?/t to sabotage the blos$soming rom\anc*e-
...