As distinguished for her mournful nature as she is for her scary fiction, author Jackson (Elizabeth Moss) is crafting yet one more work of art when the arrival of couples Fred as well as Rose disrupt her innovative process and also marriage to literary doubter - and also philandering professor - Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg). As Stanley spars to preserve academic supremacy over his prospective protégé Fred, Rose tries to moisten her own ambitions and also adapt to wedded life while living under the roofing of their fiery intellectual hosts with quicksilver commitments and myriad neuroses. When the intentions of 's literary muse show evasive, Rose's inquisitiveness and also trusting nature make her tender prey for a dazzling author whose just loyalty is to her job.