A biography of Winston Churchill, shown through re-creations and actual film footage and told by Orson Welles.

Henri and his brother Paul attend the reading of their uncle's will, and learn that their Aunt Rosalie inherits everything, but that after her death the two nephews are to share the income from the estate. The excitement of the two brothers is tempered by their present lack of resources. Rosalie has little regard for either of her nephews, and she determines to outlive them both. Paul decides to win over his aunt, and he soon moves in with her. The two brothers then look for a way to kill her without arousing suspicion.

Mr. Appleby's antique shop is losing money, because he is so fond of the best items that he refuses to sell them to anyone. A representative from a supplier visits the shop, and tells Appleby that he must pay his bill within two weeks, or else the supplier will reclaim his inventory. Appleby's wife has a moderate endowment, but she will not help him, so he kills her and makes it look like an accident. He gets away with it, and marries a wealthy woman whom he had met in the shop. But he soon learns that she knows all about him, and has made careful arrangements to protect herself.

When a friend moves to San Francisco, Carl and Annette Borden agree to take her Great Dane, Cassandra. Carl gets along wonderfully with the dog, but the beast doesn't seem to take well to Annette. Carl is a writer, Annette an artist who works with clay. She's also an artist in the kitchen, where some serious domestic trouble is about to begin. Meanwhile, Cassandra lives up to her name.