This play unfolds in a Brooklyn apartment in 1938, amidst the terrifying backdrop of the Kristallnacht pogrom in Nazi Germany. It centers on a Jewish couple, Phillip and Sylvia Gellburg, whose marriage is unraveling under the strain of Sylvia's mysterious paralysis, which seems to be a psychosomatic response to the horrors unfolding in Germany. As Phillip struggles with his own identity and his role in his wife's illness, the couple seeks help from Dr. Harry Hyman, whose involvement only deepens the complexities of their relationship. The narrative explores themes of guilt, identity, and the psychological impact of historical events on personal lives, revealing the brokenness within individuals and their relationships against the backdrop of a broken world.

The 4976th greatest book of all time