Kiss Me, Stupid

While driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, Dino is forced to detour through Climax, Nevada. There, he meets Barney Millsap, a gas station attendant, and Orville J. Spooner, a jealous piano teacher. Barney disables Dino's Italian sports car and explains that parts must come from LA or Milan, leaving him stranded in town.

Orville invites Dino to stay with him and Zelda at their home. He grows anxious when he learns that Dino needs to have sex every night to avoid headaches, a demand that could threaten his marriage. The situation creates immediate tension as the town negotiations begin.

To keep Dino satisfied and protect Orville's marriage, Orville and Barney arrange for Polly the Pistol to pose as Orville's wife and fulfill Dino's desires. Polly's presence in town becomes the centerpiece of their plan. The plan hinges on convincing Dino that he has a real wife in Orville's house.

Orville deliberately provokes an argument with Zelda to drive her away, ensuring Dino won't reveal the ruse. Zelda flees in tears, removing herself from immediate scrutiny. The setup proceeds with Polly stepping in as a stand-in wife.

That evening, after dinner, Orville plays his tunes for Dino on the piano while Polly requests a song. The piece is one he wrote for his wife when trying to persuade her to marry him, stirring emotion in both Orville and Polly. The moment nudges Orville toward treating Polly as a wife rather than a performer.

Under the influence of wine and song, Orville starts thinking of Polly as his wife. He ends up spending the night with Polly, further blurring the lines of the deception.

Dino seeks shelter at the Belly Button, the town's saloon on the edge of town. Zelda, distraught earlier, is deposited in Polly's trailer to sleep by the saloon manager. The stage is set for the next mix-up.

Zelda, a longtime fan, visits Polly's trailer and, under the cover of night, seduces Dino while using the moment to persuade him that Orville's song would be perfect for him. The deception deepens as Zelda plays along with the plan. Dino succumbs to the moment, strengthening the ruse.

The next morning Zelda realizes the trick Orville played on her and confronts Polly. She hands over Dino's money to Polly, who uses it to leave Climax and start a new life elsewhere. The town is left with the illusion intact for now.

A few nights later Zelda plans to divorce Orville, with Barney serving as her witness. Meanwhile, Dino performs one of their songs on national television, leaving Orville puzzled as to how it reached the airwaves. The deception seems to be unraveling just as the broadcast ties everything together.

During the national broadcast, Dino's performance triggers Orville's confusion about the scheme. Zelda then quietly orders him to kiss her on air, sealing the farce and leaving the couple to confront the consequences of their actions. The film ends on this audacious, unresolved note.