The evil boss: Franklin Hart Jr. (Dabney Coleman)

The miserable employees Doralee Rhodes (Dolly Parton, left), Violet Newstead (Lily Tomlin) and Judy Brenly (Jane Fonda )

The vile task: Where to begin? Doralee, Violet and Judy are disrespected daily. Franklin Hart is an incompetent leader, especially compared to Violet, and he spends his days making unwanted and inappropriate advances toward Doralee, even going so far as to lie about having an affair with her. Violet is soon passed over for a promotion, with Franklin stealing her ideas and telling her a man could do her job better.

Why they don't quit: Gotta make a livin'. And the women have to try to pull off a crazy scheme that involves rat poison.