Laurie Jameson is a revered, 54-year-old English professor at an elite New England college. A pioneer in her field, Laurie's seemingly well-ordered life and career slowly become unhinged when she meets Woodson Bull III (whose friends call him Third), a conservative, wrestler-jock student. Laurie and Third face off in a series of confrontations over politics, ethics, and Shakespeare, forcing her to reevaluate many of her long-held beliefs.