Faith Asbury finds herself wedged between the branches of a tree in a bustling New York playground. Below, her children, Richard and Anthony, along with a throng of neighborhood kids, fill the air with the chaos of play. Overseeing these "terrible seedlings" are watchful mothers, while "young Saturday fathers" and older dads, accompanied by their children from "a third intelligent marriage," add to the weekend scene. Faith, wishing to be elsewhere, perhaps in the "man-wide" world or in the company of a "brainy companion," reflects on her life as various characters pause beneath her tree to converse with her.

Reflections and Revelations

Perched in her arboreal retreat, Faith contemplates her past and uncertain future, engaging in intermittent chats with passersby. Through these interactions, we learn of her previous marriage to Ricardo, now residing in an unnamed yet exotic locale, seemingly with a younger woman who embodies principles that Faith once upheld. Raised in a Jewish, socially-aware household, Faith now finds herself in an unsatisfying job that pays the bills but does little to fulfill her, leaving her directionless. Her struggle extends to her beliefs, encapsulated in her musings: "My vocabulary is adequate for writing notes and keeping journals but absolutely useless for an active moral life." She laments the absence of a guiding "unreducible verb" in her mental lexicon that could direct her next steps.

A Fleeting Encounter

Momentarily abandoning her elevated post, Faith engages in a light flirtation with Phillip Mazzano, a charismatic figure who once dallied with Kitty Skazka, Faith’s closest friend. Formerly an educator and later a State Department employee, Phillip now aspires to comedic fame. He quickly bonds with Richard, Faith’s eldest son, while Faith herself retreats back to her perch as Phillip's attention shifts towards Anna Kraat, another acquaintance, who is described as being "not interested in anything."

An Unexpected Intrusion

With the story unfolding, the atmosphere in the park remains largely static, mirroring Faith’s own stillness in the tree. The calm is disrupted by the arrival of a diverse group of men, women, and children, their presence announced by the clamor of pots and pans. They carry three impactful posters. The first confronts onlookers with the question, "WOULD YOU BURN A CHILD?" The second poster offers a chilling justification: "WHEN NECESSARY." The final poster, devoid of words, hauntingly depicts a napalmed Vietnamese child, "seared, scarred, with twisted hands." Their protest casts a somber pall over the playground.

Confrontation and Awakening

Douglas, a police officer, attempts to disperse the antiwar demonstrators, who comply by regrouping and continuing their protest more quietly after discarding the wooden handles of their posters. In response to this confrontation, young Anthony voices his displeasure with Douglas's authority. Douglas retorts with, "Listen Tonto, there’s a war on. You’ll be a soldier too someday. I know you’re no sissy like some kids around here. You’ll fight for your country."

Richard, incensed by Douglas’s dismissive attitude and the apathy of the onlookers, including Faith, erupts with anger: "I hate you. I hate your stupid friends. Why didn’t they just stand up to that stupid cop." Driven by this emotional turmoil, he inscribes in vibrant red chalk on the pavement, the haunting question and answer: "WOULD YOU BURN A CHILD? WHEN NECESSARY." This act of defiance jolts Faith into a profound awareness of her role and duty in life. Her resolve crystallizes, pushing her to leave the confines of "that sexy playground" and re-engage with the world beyond.