Set one steamy night on a cotton plantation in the Mississippi Delta, the story unfolds as the Pollit family gathers to celebrate Big Daddy's sixty-fifth birthday.

Big Daddy's disaffected former football hero son, Brick escapes from life into a bottle of whiskey, while his wife Maggie tries to use her wit and sensual charm to finally win his affection. Maggie is also determined to secure Brick's inheritance against the schemes devised by his brother Gooper and sister-in-law Mae. Whilst his family schemes and wrangles, Big Daddy alone is unaware he is dying of cancer.

On this night, deeply buried secrets claw their way to the surface - allowing life, in whatever fashion, to go on.