When Ruth Steiner initially invites to her home and meets the student who will become a large part of her life, she is seen as a lone genius who rarely gets out of the house except for the time she spends instructing students. Lisa is young, idealistic, an aspiring writer, an awkward young, woman who is giddy in the presence of the master.

Their relationship develops over a six year period; Ruth becomes more open and mother-like to her protegée, Lisa becomes more poised and professional and begins to win awards for her writing.

Questions arise: is the mentor becoming a smothering mother figure? Is the student becoming a rebellious daughter-figure?

Ruth has taught Lisa well: play on words: to be ruthless, to find a story wherever she can, to take what she can get and run with it. Writing is a lonely profession that can be void of inspiration, and according to Ruth, whatever you can use is yours.

Ruth taught Lisa well. Ruth is prodded by Lisa to reveal personal information, the details of a love letter tucked away in a one of Ruth’s books. Ruth reluctantly reveals the details of her brief affair with the famous author Delmore Schwartz (“In Dreams Begin Responsibilities,” is mentioned). The story that has been hidden for so many years is uncovered … and stolen.

When Lisa reads an excerpt from her new book at a reading session at New York’s famous 92nd Street Y, and we hear all the allusions that she was privy to when Ruth brought her life to light. Lisa is now a mature, budding brilliant writer and as she once said, she couldn’t have done it without Ruth.

The acting was flawless.

In the usual inimicable way, Mr. Margulies presents a moral dilemma: what belongs to you?

My cousin, Donald Margulies is the playwright; this is the second of two of his plays produced this year by the Manhattan Theater Club. The play originally debuted, I believe fifteen years ago.