Millicent is taking a semester off from her studies to concentrate on her thesis about children with severe allergies , which makes her the perfect person to take care of little Johnny, a sickly, mute child who suffers from every allergy under the sun, from nickel to artificial fabric. His overbearing mother, Rebecca
, is an accomplished author who is focused on her latest book release

, while his dissatisfied father, Jacob
, spends sweaty, shirtless days toiling away on a carpentry project in the backyard.