A group of actors rehearses a play called Nothing On in the Grand Theatre, Weston-super-Mare. Their set is the holiday home of the Brents in the English countryside. Mrs. Clackett, played by Dotty Otley, enters first. Speaking into the onstage telephone prop, she says that the Brents are in Spain and that she is their housekeeper. During her exit, she struggles to remember which of her props, a plate of sardines or a newspaper, she is supposed to leave on stage. The director, Lloyd Dallas, clarifies this and reminds her that they open the following night. 

Dotty continues with the scene, and Roger Tramplemain, played by Garry Lejeune, and Vicki, played by Brooke Ashton, enter on their cues. Dotty again struggles with her props, and Lloyd has to stop the rehearsal to clarify what she should leave on stage. Garry thinks they are doing a technical rehearsal and points out that they have only had two weeks to rehearse. Lloyd asserts that this is the dress rehearsal. Garry mutters comments about the upcoming tour and Lloyd as a director. Meanwhile, Brooke is confused. The scene continues, and Dotty eventually has the props in the correct places when she makes her exit.