The Arrangement

At the dinner table, Ainsley Greenburg observes her husband Peter Greenburg’s flushed skin, a physical tell that reveals his nervousness as they discuss their new open-marriage arrangement. They establish clear rules: specific assigned days (Tuesdays for Ainsley, Thursdays for Peter), app-based connections only, mandatory protection and testing, no emotional attachments, and keeping it secret from their children. They agree on fake names for their dating profiles: “Annie Green” for Ainsley and “Pete Patterson” for Peter. Ainsley reflects that the idea, which was hers, originated a week earlier from a sitcom she watched; she believes that it might reignite their passion after years of fading intimacy.

Ainsley internally commits to the arrangement as a last resort, noting how their marriage has deteriorated and recalling how previous attempts to reconnect through date nights and counseling failed. Both she and Peter experienced parental divorce, making their marital problems even more threatening and Ainsley even more committed to finding another solution. Peter agrees to the plan despite his obvious anxiety, expressing his love and fear of losing Ainsley. They download the dating app together. Ainsley hopes that sex with strangers will revive their marriage while simultaneously fearing that it’s a terrible mistake.