Two sets of affluent parents living in Brooklyn, Penelope and Michael Longstreet and Nancy and Alan Cowan, meet to address a violent incident between their sons. Their sons had been involved in a fight: the Longstreets’ son, Ethan, has been struck in the face with a stick by the Cowans’ son, Zachary, resulting in Ethan losing two teeth. The couples converge in the Longstreets’ apartment to resolve the matter civilly, discussing the situation and how best to deal with their sons' altercation. Penelope, an earnest advocate for human rights, urges for a communal sense of responsibility and caring, while her husband, Michael, an everyday home goods wholesaler, seems less rigid about the issue. On the other side, Nancy, an investment broker, appears more conciliatory, whereas her husband, Alan, a distracted corporate lawyer, is constantly interrupted by work calls on his cellphone.

As the meeting progresses, what begins as a polite and refined conversation between the parents, slowly breaks down into pettiness, and the thin veil of civility is torn apart. The initial cordiality is eroded by snide remarks and growing resentments, revealing prejudices and hypocrisy. In the closed environment of the apartment, tensions rise, alliances shift, and the adults' behavior increasingly mirrors the childlike aggression they are criticizing. Their discourse spirals from the concern over their children's behavior into the exposure of personal conflicts and marital strains within each couple, highlighting the complexities and cracks in their mature facades.