Roommates Thelma and ZaSu are phone operators at the Empire Hotel. Thelma is frank and brassy; ZaSu, who misses the cows of Joplin, is laconic and droll. Thelma’s boyfriend Harry manages the Strangler, a wrestler homesick for Kansas. Even though there’s a big match that night, with all of Harry’s money riding on it, the Strangler wants to leave for home now. When he stops at the operators’ station to call home, he chats with ZaSu. They click and Harry realizes that Thelma’s pal might be the key to keeping the Strangler in town for the bout. And the wrestling match? Should ZaSu throw her hat in the ring?