Rhoda Varden, a young girl, plays on the floor of her grandmother Mrs. Varden's house when two neighbors arrive. They sit next to the grandmother, who is engrossed in her sewing and does not acknowledge their arrival. The neighbors sigh and murmur to each other how terrible it is that Rhoda doesn’t know. Rhoda plays with her worn-out rag doll, not paying attention. Soon, Rhoda’s mother Lu Varden arrives. Lu is dressed in cheap but flashy clothing, and her eyes have red rims. She greets Rhoda by patting her like a dog. The grandmother, Lu, and the neighbors discuss how a dreadful undisclosed event will occur at half-past ten. Lu reassures Mrs. Varden that Al, her boyfriend, said the process is not painful. They tried to speak to the governor at his hotel, but it was futile. A reporter took Lu’s picture and told her she’d be on the front page.

Mrs. Varden mentions Jim, Lu’s ex-husband, and her son, to which Lu yells that Jim is nothing but an abusive, stealing alcoholic. She says she doesn’t owe Jim anything and he made her life miserable. He spent all his money on drinking and was arrested for allegedly shooting a child. Lu says she hated pretending he was not guilty in court hearings when she knew he was. Mrs. Varne strongly defends Jim as a good person. It becomes quarter-past ten as they continue arguing. Mrs. Varne starts to sob and ask why she doesn’t have enough money to save Jim. Lu reassures her that he had a fair trial and she did all she could to help. Rhoda hides under the bed as Mrs. Varden continues sobbing. 

The big clock on the town square strikes at half-past ten. Mrs. Varne yells at Lu and asks why she doesn't do something, then sobs until Al arrives. He announces that it was over by the first volts. Al reveals that all Jim told the priest is that he didn’t do the crime. One of the neighbors returns, saying someone wants to speak to Al, and Lu leaves with him. Mrs. Varne lays motionless across her work table until Lu and Al rush back into the house. Lu cries out that Jim didn’t do it, that it was one of the witnesses who grabbed his gun and did it, but Jim was too drunk to remember. The witness wrote to the governor the truth of what happened and then shot himself, but the governor never received the letter until half-past ten, when it was too late. Lu and Mrs. Varden sob, and Al questions why Lu is crying over her ex-husband in the first place. Lu and Al drink some gin after, and Rhoda continues to play on the floor mindlessly. Lu asks Al to get one of the newspapers the newsboys were calling out about.