Unwinding her relationship from a controlling choreographer, Kayla happens to take an elevator ride with lonesome caterer “Dustin”. The lift stalls, and spontaneously, magical kisses follow. Soon the choreographer makes nice, and Dustin retreats. Kayla becomes confused as to which man to love.

An evening of TV programming is interrupted by breaking news: in Charleston, South Carolina, two Coast Guard personnel and two members of a local news team have been taken hostage by a group of terrorists who are seeking to destroy the triggers of all local nuclear devices. Moreover, the terrorists threaten to detonate their own device if their demands are not met.

The 12 years old well-bred Lonnie meets the impudent Karen on the street. They spend some time together and Karen teaches Lonnie some of her favorite occupancies, like make-up, shoplifting, skipping school and lying to the parent about it, but confessing to the priest later. But Karen also learns some honesty from Lonnie. A film about social differences and growing up.

故事发生在1973年的马萨诸塞州，乔（杰克•吉伦哈尔 Jake Gyllenhaal 饰）是一个生活在那里的心碎的男人。曾经，他也有过堪称完美的生活，和未婚妻戴安娜（Careena Melia 饰）即将携手步入婚礼的殿堂，可是，在一间咖啡馆中，戴安娜成为了一场枪击事件里的无故牺牲者，戴安娜的死将乔瞬间抛入了绝望之中。
虽然戴安娜死了，但乔还是和戴安娜的父母本（达斯汀•霍夫曼 Dustin Hoffman 饰）以及周周（苏珊•萨兰登 Susan Sarandon 饰）生活在一起。本和周周早已经将乔当成是自己的家人了。他们邀请乔一同参与当地的房地产建设经营工作，为了摆脱精神的痛苦，乔将所有的精力都投入了工作之中。