Breeder Reaction

A sharp‑tongued product engineer is loaned to the glittering cosmetics house Elaine Templeton, Inc., to shepherd a new “kiss‑proof” lipstick from concept to market. He quickly discovers that the real challenge isn’t the chemistry but the endless parade of corporate ideas, budget‑sized slogans, and the pressure to turn any novelty into a brand‑building triumph. The satire rolls out against a backdrop of 1950s atomic optimism, where a splash of “radiant” powder promises more than just a fresh look.

As meetings swell with eager department heads, the engineer is handed a quirky proposal for Atummyc Afterbath Dusting Powder—an “atomic” concoction whose name riffs on the word “tummy” to appeal to teenage maven. He must sift through half‑baked concepts, decide what survives the wastebasket, and navigate the delicate politics of a company that loves hype more than profit. The result is a witty glimpse into the absurd machinery that turns a simple cosmetic into a cultural flashpoint.