The play opens in France 1868, in a village house on the Seine. The beautiful Thérèse is inveigled by her domineering aunt, Madame Raquin, into a loveless marriage to her sickly cousin, Camille. Every Thursday evening she watches Madame Raquin play dominoes, until one day her husband brings along an old friend, the alluring and athletic Laurent. As Laurent and Thérse embark on an illicit affair, a turbulent passion is unleashed that drives them ultimately to violence and murder….