Alan Robinson, 36, leads a group of younger copywriters at J. Dunaway Advertising, a big New York agency. To escape the heat his wife, Liddie, and the children have left town for the summer. Back in the city, Alan misbehaves. He loves making ads, but he's tired of the business. Then, an acquaintance with a woman writer, who reminds him of Liddie before they were married, changes his perspective on everything. And while Alan tries to figure out what he used to love about advertising, Liddie makes a monumental decision.

Richard N (Dick) Anderson attended Penn State University and Columbia. He was a copywriter and executive for several ad agencies, including Benton and Bowles, SSC&B and McCann Erickson. He was a painter and professional jazz saxophonist. Dick died in Tokyo, Japan in 1974.