In 1937, Stanley Jerome finds a sheet of paper filled with line drawings of breasts that falls out of a book belonging to his younger brother, Eugene Morris Jerome. At breakfast, Stanley Jerome returns the book to his brother, but hands the folded sheet of drawings to their sixteen-year-old cousin, Nora. Before she can look at the contents, Eugene Morris Jerome rips the paper into tiny pieces, swallowing them. After school, Eugene pretends he is a Yankee baseball player, practicing pitching against the backyard wall of his Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, home. Although his mother, Kate, orders him to set the dinner table, he goes to the garage to write a new entry in his journal. He plans to be a writer if things do not work out with the Yankees. Inside the house, Kate tells Eugene to organize his cousin Laurie’s magazines. Eugene resents doing Laurie’s chores, but the adults spoil her because she has a “heart flutter.” Kate sends Eugene to the store to buy four thin slices of Swiss cheese and get money for returning a milk bottle. Eugene pretends the milk bottle is a football, and drops it when he plows into his neighbor, Frank Murphy. Frank gives ten cents to Eugene to reimburse him for the broken bottle, and asks Eugene to send his regards to his aunt, Blanche Morton. Eugene knows that Frank is romantically interested in Blanche, and is eager for any news about her. Meanwhile, Kate complains to Blanche that Eugene is a handful. They reminisce about how their mother could keep a clean house even when Cossacks threatened her. When Laurie wants to know who Cossacks are, Kate says their neighbors, the Murphys, are like Cossacks. Laurie remarks that Frank has a crush on her mother, but Kate says Frank is an Irish alcoholic, and cautions Blanche to stick to members of her own religion. On his way home, Eugene says his Uncle Dave died from a heart attack, and left Blanche with no savings or insurance. His father, Jack, a factory worker, took a second job selling party favors to support Blanche and her two daughters, but the added stress adversely affects his health. Later, Nora announces that she has a chance to audition to be a dancer in a Broadway play. Her mother and Aunt Kate immediately spout reasons why performing is a bad idea: Nora is too young, she will miss school, and will not be able to get a decent job without a high school diploma. Blanche wants to get Jack’s opinion before she gives permission for Nora to audition. Stanley returns from work and tells Eugene that he will most likely lose his job because of a fight with the boss. Soon, Jack returns from work, and reveals that Delmar Party Favors, his supplier, is bankrupt. Jack is angry because he had no warning, and Kate is shocked because the owner lives in a fancy apartment. When Jack complains that it will be hard to make ends meet without the extra income, Kate tells him that his prayers will be answered at temple. At dinner, tension hangs thick in the air. To shift the attention away from himself, Eugene asks Stanley how things are at work. When Stanley pretends that work is good, his father tells him it is time to ask for a raise. Then, Laurie prompts Nora about her opportunity to be a dancer on Broadway. Blanche misses the chance to ask Jack for his opinion, and the attention shifts back to Eugene, who will not eat the liver and cabbage on his plate. In the kitchen, Nora tells her mother she needs to make a decision that night. If Uncle Jack will not weigh in, she will take matters into her own hands. Stanley still wants to talk to his father about his work problem, but Jack is fiddling with the radio so he can hear the latest news about the war brewing in Europe. Blanche walks to the drugstore, and Frank Murphy offers her a ride home in a friend’s car. They flirt and Blanche agrees to have dinner with him the following Wednesday. As Stanley fixes the family radio, he schools Eugene in some basic facts about masturbation. Soon, Blanche declines an invitation to Jack’s company party because she has a date. When Kate hears the date is with Frank, she calls him an Irish hooligan. Blanche protests that Frank is respectful and polite. He has a good job in a print shop, but still Kate does not approve. Meanwhile, Eugene is astonished to learn that Nora masturbates. He says that he is in love with her, but Stanley warns that you cannot marry your cousin or you will end up with babies that have nine heads. Meanwhile, Jack counsels his niece to finish high school and Blanche agrees. Nora is clearly disappointed. Stanley returns the repaired radio to the living room, and Jack agrees to talk. When Stanley admits he was fired, Jack tells him that everybody in the family needs to contribute their share. When Jack admits that he is proud of his son, Stanley decides to ask for his job back. Then, Stanley asks Eugene to help him write a letter of apology to his boss, and Eugene asks for Stanley’s description of Nora’s naked body as payment for his services. The next day, the family visits David Morton’s grave on the third anniversary of his death, and observes the Jewish custom of leaving stones on the gravestone. Soon, Jack drives a taxicab at night to supplement the family income, but has a mild heart attack. Eugene is scared when police officers escort Jack home. The next day, Eugene finds Stanley gambling at the pool hall. Stanley orders Eugene to leave, then the other pool player hustles Stanley out of his $17 paycheck. Blanche spends hours primping for her date, but bursts into tears when she discovers Nora has gone out. Blanche believes Nora is punishing her after being denied a chance to audition. Jack’s solution is to send Eugene to the store to buy ice cream for everyone. Meanwhile, Kate discovers that Stanley gambled away his paycheck. Kate tells her son to say he was robbed because if her husband knows the truth it would kill him. Soon, Mrs. Murphy, Frank’s mother, tells Blanche that Frank was in a car accident while drunk, and the date is canceled. After her son recovers, they plan to move to the country to be with relatives, where Frank can get treatment for his alcoholism. Later, Kate says Frank’s accident is for the best, but Blanche wishes that Kate would be more sympathetic. Kate argues that growing up, she was “the work horse” and Blanche was “the pretty one,” and her resentment pours out. Kate describes how she slaved, sacrificed and went without nice clothes so that Blanche could have a better life. Now all Blanche can think about is Frank, while Jack is sick because he has to keep a roof over everyone’s head. Blanche says she will move in with her friend, Louise, and find a job. Then, she will send for her daughters because she does not want to be a burden. Eugene races to the train station to stop Stanley from leaving home, but Stanley decides to join the army so he can help the family. Eugene gives Stanley his savings, and Stanley insists that Eugene finish school. At dinner, Kate tells Jack about Stanley’s gambling, and he is more upset about being kept in the dark than Stanley’s actual financial loss. Later, with suitcase in hand, Blanche says goodbye to her sister, but Kate regrets their fight, and asks Blanche to stay. Stanley has a change of heart, returns home, and apologizes to his father for his poor judgment. Jack confesses that he will always have room in his heart to forgive his children. Jack is over his anger toward Stanley, and now with war about to break out, he is glad that Stanley is back home. Later, Stanley tells Eugene that he is grateful for his support, and hands him a present. It is a postcard of a nude French woman reclined on a couch, and Eugene is entranced. In the kitchen, Jack reads a letter with news that a cousin and his family have left Poland, escaped the Nazis, and plan to resettle in America. Suddenly, everyone is abuzz with ideas on how to welcome them. Upstairs, Eugene gleefully documents in his journal that the French nudie postcard is a milestone moment that will propel him past puberty.