The story unfolds in the wee hours of a summer morning in 1912 at Harry Hope's saloon. This dingy backroom, crowded with tables and chairs, serves as a refuge for nine weary men, including the aging host Harry Hope and Larry Slade. These men, lost in a haze of alcohol-induced slumber, epitomize the desolate existence of the saloon's regular patrons, all eagerly anticipating the arrival of the charismatic salesman, Hickey.

Conversations and Confessions

Don Parritt, a young newcomer to the saloon, strikes up a conversation with Larry. Parritt is burdened with the weight of his mother's imprisonment, as well as the suspicion that someone betrayed her. He seeks out Larry, a former anarchist now disillusioned with humanity, hoping to uncover the truth and find solace. Larry, however, is jaded and unwilling to engage deeply, preferring to wallow in solitude.

The Colorful Characters

Amid the dreary regulars, Willie Oban, a former Harvard Law student, yearns for a solution to his stagnation. Meanwhile, two streetwalkers, Margie and Pearl, return from their nocturnal escapades, handing their earnings to Rocky, the night bartender. Despite his protests against being labeled a pimp, the women insist they are merely tarts. The day bartender, Chuck, and his girlfriend Cora, who is also a prostitute, add to the colorful mix of personalities that populate the saloon.

Hickey's Arrival

Hickey's entrance marks a pivotal moment, as the jolly salesman unveils his shocking sobriety and newfound mission. He intends to free his friends from their delusions and pipe dreams, urging them to face reality with honesty for inner peace. His uncharacteristic zeal leaves the regulars bewildered and uneasy.

The Party and Its Foreboding

The saloon comes to life at midnight for Harry Hope's much-anticipated birthday celebration. Yet, the usually festive occasion is tainted by tension and irritation. Hickey's determined efforts to strip away his friends' illusions have left them agitated. He boldly challenges each of them to confront their truths, from the women accepting their roles to Hope reacquainting himself with the outside world. In a startling revelation, Hickey shares news of Evelyn's death, claiming she finally found peace.

A Sober Dawn

With dawn comes a sobering reality. The saloon's residents, resigned but defiant, surrender their room keys, ready to brave the outside world. Tempers flare as Chuck and Cora argue, followed by a heated exchange between Chuck and Rocky. Joe Mott faces racial insults, responding with threats, while Piet and Cecil relive old military conflicts, revealing the tensions simmering beneath the surface. Larry accuses Hickey of bringing doom to their doorstep.

Confrontation and Revelation

As the regulars hesitate to step beyond the saloon's confines, Hickey prods them to venture outside. Hope, particularly resistant, attempts a brief foray only to rush back, overwhelmed by the bustling streets. In a heated confrontation, Larry demands answers about Evelyn's fate, prompting Hickey to reveal the shocking truth of her death.

The Weight of Confession

The story reaches its emotional apex as Hickey delivers a raw, heartfelt confession. He recounts his tumultuous past, marked by rebellion against his father's strict ways and a cycle of infidelity and regret towards his loving yet forgiving wife, Evelyn. Driven by an unbearable sense of guilt and the need to release them both from suffering, Hickey admits to ending her life.

Parritt's Parallel

In the wake of Hickey's admission, Parritt unburdens his own soul, confessing to Larry the betrayal of his mother out of a deep-seated hatred. Larry, exasperated, urges Parritt to "get the hell out of life," leading to Parritt's tragic demise. As Parritt leaps to his death, the gravity of his actions reverberates through the saloon.

The Aftermath

Following Parritt's suicide and Hickey's arrest for murder, the once hopeful roomers resume their drinking, clinging to their shattered illusions. Hickey's final reflections are dismissed as madness, his attempts to free them from their dreams deemed "nutty." Larry, the solitary convert to Hickey's dark message, wishes for his own death, poignantly concluding the narrative with the realization that Hickey's true legacy was a harbinger of death rather than rebirth.