The play opens at the Jerome house in Brighton Beach, an area Simon describes as “lower-middle income area inhabited mainly by Jews, Irish, and Germans” (3). Kate Jerome, her sister Blanche Morris, and Blanche’s daughter Laurie Morton are working around the house. Kate’s son Eugene is outside playing baseball. He is monologuing as though he is playing in the World Series and is throwing the ball against the wall. Kate tells him he’s being too loud and asks him to quiet down. Blanche mentions her headache, and Laurie insists Eugene always seems to be disruptive while she’s studying. Eugene begrudgingly ends his game to set the dinner table. He delivers the first of many addresses to the audience, saying that he always seems to be blamed for household problems. He also expresses that Laurie seems to get special treatment from his mother and aunt since she was born with a heart flutter.

Eugene is almost 15 and has ambitious dreams. His first choice is to pursue a career in baseball, but he feels as though his full name, Eugene Morris Jerome, will prevent him from playing for his beloved Yankees.