Mrs. Muir (Hope Lange) inadvertently offends Captain Gregg (Edward Mulhare) who leaves saying, "I'll stay out of you're way; I'll leave you're people completely alone." Meanwhile, three bank robbery convicts have escaped from nearby maximum-security Wentworth Prison. Soon taking up refuge at Gull Cottage with Mrs. Muir and Martha (Reta Shaw) are the convicts- Biff (Bern Hoffman), Frankie (noted nervous/unbalanced tangled with bad guys character actor Elisha Cook Jr., "The Maltese Falcon", "The Big Sleep") and ringleader Duke (impressionist Guy Marks both looking and sounding like Humphrey Bogart in this sendup of "The Desperate Hours"). A still miffed Captain refuses to help Mrs. Muir. The women sneak out a sign for help, which is answered by handyman Mr. Peevey (Guy Raymond) thinking they need repairs carried out. Claymore (Charles Nelson Reilly) comes looking for Mr. Peevy and when they both are held hostage by the men, the women see their chances of freedom dimming.
The plot is predictable, and unfortunately neither suspenseful or quite funny.