Reece McHenry (Sam Shepard) is a used-clothing store owner and Carol Fitzsimmons (Diane Keaton) is a seamstress working in the store. Reece and Carol are in love, and as their relationship flowers they run into an obstacle. Reece is married to a woman in a coma, but despite her hopeless condition, he will not break his promise and annul the marriage. For decades Reece and Carol are in love but not together, until it is too late. Unwilling to see his son face the same fate, Reece forces Tom to express his feeling to Katherine, Carols daughter. This movie follows the story of Reece, Carol and their childrens relationship from the 1960s to the present day.