Proof by David Auburn centers on Catherine, the brilliant but troubled daughter of a recently deceased mathematical genius, who has spent years caring for her mentally ill father. Following his death, a former student discovers a groundbreaking mathematical proof in one of his notebooks, forcing Catherine to deal with both her grieving family and doubts over who actually authored the revolutionary discovery. As emotional and intellectual tensions rise, she must struggle to claim her own identity and talent while facing the fear that she may have inherited her father's instability.