Manhattan Maids is a burlesque show at a place called The Willis in Kansas City, MO. Arthur is an older man who hands out candy and works at the theatre. There are two detectives standing in the lobby as the first part of the show is ending. For the past four weeks, these detectives have arrested the performers.

On this night there are seven people among the total 260 seats available in The Willis. The business had lost their straight-man, so one of the comics, Frankie, sings a song for the crowd and does the introductions. He introduces the show-girl, Miss Joan Merry. Joan comes out on the stage.

She does a seductive dance and a minor strip-tease. She sees the two detectives and does not strip anymore. The audience is angry that she did not do a full strip-tease.

Showgirls in feathered outfits come out on stage and do a dance that drowns out the complaints of the audience.

Frankie comes back out onto the stage and tells the audience that this is a family theatre which upholds the law. He wishes that the audience could respect that and enjoy the rest of the show in good humor.

Following this, an audience member approaches Frankie and is very upset that the advertisement led him to think that this would be a strip show. Frankie dismisses him.

During the intermission, Frankie and Nat, the other comic, approach the detectives in the lobby. Frankie asks Henderson, a young detective, when he will be getting his showgirl uniforms back from the station, as the girls they arrested who were wearing them, were acquitted.

Peebles, the other detective, along with Henderson, argue that Frank and Nat do not need them. Frank and Nat express that they need more than one set of costumes for their show. Frank and Nat ask if they are here to arrest more girls and hurt their business. The officers aren't really responsive. Frank asks if they think he can continue running his business and paying his employees if his girls keep getting arrested for doing the show. He and Nat both ask the officers if this work is really so brutal.

During this conversation, two more members of the audience leave.

Frank and Nat conclude their speech in asking if the four arrests ending in four dismisses from a judge is really lawful. They head off for dinner. The office remain smoking in the lobby. Arthur approaches after hearing the entire conversation. The officers sort of taunt Arthur by asking if anyone bought his stuff. They say that he hasn't sold anything because the show is lousy or it is just an off night. Arthur retaliates in saying that the officers are just being political by making the arrests and that all they are really doing is putting people out of work.

The cops tell him to stop talking and get them sodas. Arthur gets them sodas. The police do not pay him. Arthur tells the cops that the girls are upset an wondering why they are being persecuted. Arthur wonders what he should tell them because he does not have an answer.

Arthur says there is no sense in the arrests which just end up with a dismissal from a judge anyways. He brings up that movies get away with doing more than the showgirls do.

An audience member who is in the lobby chimes in that this could be about the district attorney trying to be the democratic senator. Arthur agrees and mentions that other places in Missouri do way more provocative things in their shows. Arthur brings up Joan.

The officers accuse Joan of knowing what she is doing to Arthur. Arthur says yes, and he and the salesman reiterate that it is the political climate in Kansas City which is burdening the show business.

Henderson tells Arthur and the audience member to not meddle with politics. The audience member looks offended and leaves. Arthur makes a point that they just lost more business.

Henderson sees a button in the lobby and asks what it does. Arthur says it just rings for people backstage. Henderson accuses it of warning the showgirls of police. A heated argument ensues as Arthur insists that the bell is for nothing more than the performance and that it is not a raid bell. The police tell him to calm down and threaten to arrest him. During this the cops had pressed the button. Nat and Frank saunter by and comment about the alarm for the show to begin being a bit early. Arthur tells them that it was the police who rung it.

Nat asks if anyone is left in the audience. Arthur tells them there are two people still here. The police ask to speak with Frank.

They ask him where Joan, the performer, lives as they know some of the girls life in the theatre because they can't afford flats. Frank asks Nat if they can answer this. The police say they want to give her a gift before they ask. They say they don't need to know tonight. Nat says it is a nice idea.

Nat and Frank go back for the performance. Arthur tells the cops that Joan lives with Frank and that Nat is her father. Arthur tells them that the show must begin as he rings the bell. The cops leave.

The show begins. Joan comes out dressed like Lady Liberty in American colors and garb. She does not strip, she just smiles and smiles, despite the fact that she does not see the police.