Michael, a somewhat shiftless young man, yearns for three drinks of Contrino, a liqueur contained in a bright green bottle. Once, in the past, he was treated to two drinks by a convivial stranger; this brought him moderate exaltation, but he longs for the ecstasy which, he feels convinced, can only result from three. He cannot however afford even one, and is refused credit. On his departure, Mrs Gilbey, the landlady, gives the young barmaid a demonstation on how to handle men, using two persistent suitors for her hand as examples. The two rejected lovers, hearing that the object of their affections is secretly engaged to a police sergeant, revenge themselves by turning the contents of her wood shed out in the rain. This causes a general exit and Michael (who has returned with this news) takes advantage of his solitude in the deserted bar and achieves his ambition - three drinks from the green bottle. These, however, leave him not gloriously exalted but helpless and in terrified anticipation of the wrath of the landlady, who, as the crutain falls, is heard returning.