Madeline Ashton is an actress unhappy over her rapidly-disappearing youth. She at one time was apparently an acclaimed actress, but since the 1970's her career has careened downhill dismally. One example of her many ill-fated vehicles was Songbird! , a musical version of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth set to trashy disco music. She also appeared as a murder victim in Dark Windows with Michael Caine. And, though she has taken a serum for eternal youth, she has been unable to capitalize on her renewed youth: she spends most of the time trying to keep herself and her friend and rival Helen Sharp together, literally as well as figuratively.