Joan Gallagher is a high school teacher who depends on the daily support, counsel, and friendship of her two best friends Ruby, a psychiatrist, and Betsy, a music teacher at the school. Although Ruby appears to be the picture of strength and stability, she allows herself to be taken advantage of by Betsy, who is locked into an on-again, off-again relationship with fellow teacher Mark. Joan also bonds with Alice Adams, who is a new student teacher at the high school. The series focuses on the private lives of an intimate group of high school teachers and explores the complexity and endurance of close friendships among women, as well as the challenging relationship between Joan and Jake two bright, independent, experienced people as they blunder toward intimacy.