Anthony lives to discipline - it's what he does every day when he goes to work as a schoolteacher of ancient history. His life is rigidly defined by rules and by hatred, and he treats his meek wife, May, like a piece of furniture. He despises May for her quietness without recognizing that years of verbal and emotional abuse at his own hand has silenced her. When rambunctious young neighbors move onto the plot of land Anthony once planned to buy himself and throw a wild housewarming party, Anthony realizes he's found the perfect target for his anger and bitterness. He calls the police on the party. The next day, the woman living next door tries to sit beside him on the bus and strike up conversation, but he pointedly moves to another seat, certain she's engaging in the private war he's decided to wage against her. For a few days, the house is silent, and Anthony's anger bubbles over in the solitude. When he arrives home from his first day of classes, May tells him that the woman next door visited to ask that they not call the police if the next party is a quiet, restrained one. That night, the party begins, and it's so undisruptive Anthony can't find an excuse to call the police. His rage builds as he realizes he'll have no way to vindicate his wrath. He takes it out on May instead, accusing her of groveling to the neighbor as she does to everyone. May retorts that she'd rather grovel than hate. Anthony hits her across the face, knocking her to the floor. He decides it's time they sold their house as she limps upstairs, crying.