Pat Hobby, a fading screenwriter in 1930s Hollywood, struggles to maintain his relevance and income while navigating the cutthroat studio system. Pat Hobby is a desperate, aging screenwriter who relies on his fading reputation and manipulative schemes to secure work at a major film studio. He faces constant opposition from younger, more efficient writers, indifferent studio executives, and his own lack of professional integrity. The narrative framework consists of a series of interconnected short stories, each detailing a specific attempt by Hobby to cheat, charm, or bluff his way into a paycheck. The world is defined by the rigid hierarchy and cynical atmosphere of the Golden Age of cinema.

Readers and critics often observe that these stories provide a cynical, sharp-witted look at the realities of the Hollywood studio system during the 1930s. Discussion frequently centers on the character of Pat Hobby as a tragicomic figure who embodies the desperation of a man left behind by his industry. Critics highlight the economy of Fitzgerald's prose, noting how he effectively captures the absurdity of the film business in short, punchy installments. Readers often appreciate the balance between the comedic elements of Hobby's schemes and the underlying melancholy of his situation. The collection is frequently cited as a significant, albeit lesser-known, example of Fitzgerald's ability to critique the culture of his time.