Kathleen's brother Fenway owns a sheep station that has never produced a good season, and his last ray of hope lies in an old school friend Perry who has come to view the property's prospects and potentially make an offer. When her friends get word of the situation they hatch a plan to pose as potential buyers and scare Perry into offering a decent sum of money to outdo the competition. Calling on the local psychic, widowed Mrs Trelawney, to make up the numbers, the group arrives at the station just in time to welcome Perry. A combination of slippery tongues and poor Argentinian accents quickly set to work ensnaring Perry's interest. The con is finally cemented by none other than Mrs Trelawney, whom it turns out has a romantic history with Perry and so has no trouble securing his trust.
As the old passion between Perry and Mrs Trelawney is reignited Mrs Trelawney requests to back out of the con, but her friends induce her to continue playing along for the sake of their own reputations. Meanwhile, the romantic tension is growing between Fenway and Kathleen's friend Ilma, but neither believes the other to have serious intentions. Harsh words result, and Ilma sets out into the dangerously stormy night to take the next train home. On this same night Mrs Trelawney, who believes the station's bad luck to be the influence of a haunting spirit, takes it upon herself to exorcise the spirit. Mrs Trelawney is convinced of her success by Ilma's cousin Dennis, and pleads with Perry to buy the station in honest expectation of it thriving henceforth. While Fenway has gone in pursuit of Ilma, an auction takes place between Perry and the two fake buyers, resulting in Perry pledging 80 000 pounds for the station – well in excess of its worth. To everyone's surprise, Fenway refuses the offer upon his return with Ilma. The play closes as Fenway confesses to Ilma that she has become the hope and incentive he needed to hold on to it.
Characters
ILMA WRIGHT
DENNIS FROWLEY – Her cousin
GAVIN COURTNEY
KATHLEEN RAWLINS
HELEN FABER
MRS PHOEBE TRELAWNEY – A psychic woman
FENWAY RAWLINS – Kathleen's brother
MR ALEC PERRY
JACKY – An aboriginal rouseabout
