Synopsis

Chase Phillips (Dame Helen Mirren),a lifetime resident of Martha's Vineyard, married Richard (Beau Bridges),and like the area, grew into the upper middle class. Her distaste for artificiality leads her to a wild breakdown, and Richard dutifully tries to restore their family unit as best he knows how by hiring a "Mother's Helper", Elizabeth (Kyra Sedgwick). Chase is broken, and wickedly caustic towards Elizabeth, until they discover each other's similarities. A strong relationship develops, affecting their personal and familial salvation, and destruction.

Chase Phillips (Dame Helen Mirren),a lifetime resident of Martha's Vineyard, married Richard (Beau Bridges),and like the area, grew into the upper middle class. Her distaste for artificiality leads her to a wild breakdown, and Richard dutifully tries to restore their family unit as best he knows how by hiring a "Mother's Helper", Elizabeth (Kyra Sedgwick). Chase is broken, and wickedly caustic towards Elizabeth, until they discover each other's similarities. A strong relationship develops, affecting their personal and familial salvation, and destruction.