A middle aged, middle class, former music industry executive with a stay-at-home wife and son toils away at a supermarket chain. When a new high energy boss enters the company, she increases his fortunes and responsibilities while also creating tension in both his professional and personal life.

Set during the years between the "Rebecca" trial and the writing of Du Maurier's short story "The Birds", including her relationship with her husband Frederick 'Boy' Browning, and her largely unrequited infatuations with American publishing tycoon's wife Ellen Doubleday and the actress Gertrude Lawrence.