At the staid Marcia Blaine School for Girls, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Miss Jean BrodieÑteacher extraordinaireÑis unmistakably, and outspokenly in her prime. She is passionate in the application of her unorthodox teaching methods, in her attraction to the married art teacher, in her affair with the bachelor music teacher, and, most importantly, in her dedication to her girls. But one of the girls will betray her.

The setting is the model home of one of those fresh, spanking new neighborhoods that popped up in the nineties and sprawled across the Midwest with a promise of the good life. Enter two quirky, upscale couples whose instant friendship quickly morphs into a labyrinth of surprising twists and turns. The playwright relies on the character's complexities to serve up a "psychological thriller" that is as satisfying and entertaining as two of its own plot points: adultery and apple pie.

Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in Summit. Greg's career, as a derivative trader, has suddenly come to a halt, while Kate's career, as a public-school English teacher, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. Greg brings home a dog he found in Central Park--or that has found him--bearing only the name "Sylvia" on her nametag. Street-smart, sassy and sarcastic: Sylvia is your typical "Labradoodle". And she quickly becomes a major bone of contention between husband and wife. Sylvia offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age. To Kate, she becomes a rival for affection. Can the marriage be saved? Can a household pet actually be a person...?