Herbert and Hermione Carpenter plan to leave England for a stay in America. Herbert secretly plans to stay in there, while Hermione wants to be back in England for Christmas. Before leaving, Herbert kills his wife. He buries her in the basement. Herbert then goes to America. There he receives a letter from England addressed to his wife. It concerns Hermione’s Christmas gift to Herbert: a wine cellar. Unfortunately, the construction requires an excavation of the Carpenter’s basement.