On the occasion of their Golden Wedding in a small west-coast town, a local journalist calls to interview old Ned Connibeer, and his wife Nell and their middle-aged daughter. Asked for details about his life Ned is reluctant to talk about a serious accident to a train of which he was the guard. Later he was dismissed for negligence, and his only consolation is a testimonials signed by his fellow workers, which is now hanging on the wall. The journalist's suggestion that Ned should be photographed holding his testimonial is not acorded the warm reception he expects, and he is puzzled by their attitude until Nell explains that it was she and her son who faked the testimonial to stop Ned's brooding on the disaster. The journalist promises to respect their confidence and tactfully suggests a wedding cake for the photograph instead. But the last word is with Ned: as the play ends he is seen to wink at the document on the wall - a mis-spelt word told him years ago of the deception.