The following edition of the text was used in the creation of this study guide: Coward, Nöel. Present Laughter. Methuen Drama, 2023. Kindle AZW file.

The play opens in London in the 1940s in actor Garry Essendine's flat. In Act One, Daphne Stillington, a young woman in her twenties, emerges from the spare bedroom wearing a man’s pajamas and dressing gown. She calls her friend Cynthia, explaining she spent the night at Garry’s and asks Cynthia to cover for her. Miss Erikson, the housekeeper, enters, and Daphne nervously explains that she stayed because she lost the latchkey to her own house. Miss Erikson is unfazed and says Garry will wake when he’s ready. Monica, Garry’s secretary, enters, and Daphne explains how she ended up there. Monica suggests Daphne eat, get dressed, and leave a note if Garry still isn’t awake. Daphne goes back into the spare room.

Monica and Fred discuss whether to wake Garry, who then appears, complaining about the noise. Monica informs him about Daphne. Garry struggles to remember who she is. Daphne re-enters, and Monica exits to prepare for Garry’s morning schedule. Left alone, Daphne declares her love for Garry. He insists he’s too old for her and dismisses her feelings as infatuation with his public persona. Daphne argues she loves the real him and offers to support him. Garry claims he’s leaving for Africa in two weeks but will see her upon his return. He recites a poem as a way to breakup with her. They kiss before Daphne leaves the room in tears.

Liz, Garry’s estranged wife, arrives and meets Daphne, who emerges in last night’s evening gown. Daphne is shocked to learn Liz and Garry are still married, but Liz reassures her and arranges for her driver to take Daphne home. Daphne exits. Liz and Monica discuss intervening in Garry’s behavior before his Africa tour, deciding to involve their friends Morris and Henry. Liz shares concerns that Morris has feelings for Henry’s wife, Joanna, which could jeopardize their close-knit group and Garry’s career. Liz asks Garry to talk to Morris about it. Roland Maule, an aspiring playwright, arrives to discuss his script. Garry angrily criticizes the play, which excites Roland, who idolizes Garry. Garry ushers Roland out, later instructing Monica to block further contact with him. Morris and Henry arrive to discuss tour logistics and a possible London performance Garry dislikes. Afterward, Garry confronts Morris about Joanna, telling him that having an affair with her would have disastrous consequences for the professional and personal lives of their tight-knit group. Morris, initially defensive, becomes subdued but doesn’t explicitly agree with Garry. Garry signals to Liz that the situation is under control.

Act Two takes place three days later, at night, Garry is alone in his apartment. Liz calls, and Garry assures her he believes there’s nothing between Morris and Joanna. The doorbell rings, and Joanna, Henry’s wife, arrives, claiming she lost her latchkey. Garry skeptically questions her story but offers her a drink. Joanna confesses she’s in love with Garry and accuses him of poisoning Henry’s view of her. She denies having an affair with Morris and says Henry has been unfaithful. They kiss.

The next morning, Joanna emerges from the spare room in Garry’s pajamas, echoing Daphne’s behavior in Act One. She has a conversation with Miss Erikson about breakfast and when Garry will wake. Monica enters, shocked to see Joanna, who explains she stayed the night after losing her key. Liz arrives, and Joanna complains about the cold reception. Liz confronts Joanna, revealing Morris confessed to an affair with her. Liz threatens to expose the affair unless Joanna promises to avoid Garry before his trip to Africa. Joanna initially refuses but relents after Liz threatens to expose Joanna to everyone. Joanna hides in the spare room as Morris arrives.

Morris confesses to Garry that he and Joanna are in love, despite previously denying it, and shares that Joanna threatened to end things if he told anyone. Morris reveals he has been searching for Joanna all night. Liz reassures him that Joanna stayed at her house and gives him a number to call. Morris calls Joanna, who is actually in the spare room. Liz quietly scolds Garry as Morris speaks with her. Henry, Joanna’s husband, arrives, frantic about Joanna’s whereabouts. Liz again gives him the spare room number, pretending it’s her house. The doorbell rings, and Fred announces the arrival of Lady Saltburn and her niece, revealed to be Daphne from the opening scene, who Garry has unknowingly promised an audition to.

During her audition, Daphne performs the poem Garry used to end things with her. She is interrupted when Joanna bursts out of the spare room in her evening dress, refusing to stay hidden and demanding a taxi. Daphne, shocked, bitterly repeats Liz’s earlier instructions to her for the driver. Joanna storms out, and Daphne faints.

Act Three takes place a week later, as Garry prepares for his departure to Africa, surrounded by suitcases. He and Monica review correspondence, and Garry laments her absence on the trip. Monica warns him not to answer calls from Roland before saying good night and leaving. Garry is briefly alone before Daphne arrives, declaring she plans to join him in Africa to provide support if needed. The doorbell rings, and Garry hides Daphne in the office. Roland arrives, obsessed with Garry, announcing he has quit school to follow him to Africa. When the doorbell rings again, Roland locks himself in the spare room. Joanna enters, claiming she is also joining Garry in Africa and reveals she left a note for Henry confessing to her affair with Garry. Garry uses a secret signal to call Liz for help.

Liz arrives and declares that she is also going to join Garry on his tour in Africa, to Joanna’s annoyance. Henry and Morris burst in, furious about Joanna’s affair with Garry. Garry defends himself, exposing Joanna’s affair with Morris and criticizing Henry for being unfaithful to Joanna. The group argues, with Garry ranting about their mutual dependence. Joanna, ignored, storms out after slapping Garry. The men then forget about the personal disputes and proceed to argue about Garry’s upcoming theater booking. Liz convinces Henry and Morris to leave, assuring them she will handle Garry. Once alone, Liz announces she is resuming her relationship with Garry. Remembering Daphne and Roland are still hiding, Garry asks Liz if he can stay at her place. Garry announces that it is him coming back to Liz, not the other way around. They quietly leave together.