Novelist George Schneider returns to New York City after taking a European vacation, which he hoped would ease the pain of missing his beloved wife, Barbara, who died from cancer six months earlier. When his younger brother, Leo Schneider, a theatrical press agent, meets him at the airport, he realizes that George is still very much in grief. Meanwhile, actress Jennie MacLaine returns to the city a single woman after settling her divorce, and is greeted at the airport by her best friend, Faye Medwick. Sometime later, George reluctantly agrees to go on a blind date with a woman Leo has recommended. Yet, George is embarrassed when the woman meets him at an upscale restaurant wearing an eccentric hairstyle and dress. That night, Jennie also has an awkward blind date, arranged by Faye, with an extremely tall man. One evening, Jennie and Faye attend a play at The Public Theater. During intermission, Faye encounters Leo, whom she once dated. After introductions, Jennie walks outside for fresh air, while Leo flirts with Faye despite the fact that they are both married. As they return to their seats, Faye informs Jennie that Leo wants to give Jennie’s number to his recently widowed brother George, whom Faye remembers as being “not gorgeous, but sweet-looking.” Jennie sighs, hesitant about another dating experience. Later, Leo drops by George’s townhouse on Manhattan’s West Side while George is busy working. As Leo writes Jennie’s number on a piece of paper, George complains about the blind dates and states that he wants to meet women in his own way, not through Leo. He takes the paper, which also contains the phone number of a librarian he needs to contact regarding research for his latest book. Later, when George telephones the librarian, he mistakenly dials Jennie’s number. After initial confusion, George apologizes for the error, but Jennie is annoyed and hangs up. During a series of follow-up calls later that day and evening, George charms Jennie into meeting for a “five-minute date.” The following night, George and Jennie enjoy a glass of wine at her East Side apartment and are pleasantly surprised by each other’s company. They plan a full date for the next night at an Indian restaurant and begin a whirlwind courtship. After leaving a concert early one evening, Jennie and George return to his house and make love. Although the relationship started ten days earlier, Jennie feels they have known each other for years, but when George sees a photograph of Barbara by the bedside, he becomes preoccupied by her memory. With understanding, Jennie reminds George not to rush his feelings and says she loves him. After playing football in the park, George reveals to his brother that he is going to marry Jennie at the courthouse Monday morning. Shocked, Leo follows George home and tries to convince him to wait, but George is committed. During an outdoor barbeque, Leo also cautions Jennie about marrying a recent widower after two weeks of dating, but Jennie says she is determined. Following a small ceremony at the courthouse, George and Jennie travel to Bermuda for their honeymoon and stay at a luxurious villa overlooking the ocean. Their time is idyllic until one evening at dinner George encounters a former acquaintance, Lee Michaels, who expresses his condolences about Barbara. That night, George sits by the pool unable to sleep and complains to Jennie that it was unwise to return to the same place where he and Barbara spent their honeymoon. At breakfast, George is still moody and announces that he wants fly home immediately. When he and Jennie arrive in New York City that night, they are both irritable. While George wants to avoid a confrontation, Jennie persists in trying to understand his sudden coldness toward her. As she asks about Barbara, George loses his temper. He blurts out that he misses Barbara all the time and resents Jennie. Hurt, Jennie walks away. Later, during auditions for theater producer Joseph Papp, Jennie feels too distracted to prepare properly and decides not to read for the role. When she comes home and sees suitcases, George somberly informs her that he is traveling to Los Angeles, California, for a meeting and is uncertain about when he will return. Confidently, Jennie makes an emotional speech about her dedication to their marriage, declaring that she will not give up despite George’s insensitivity. In spite of her wisdom, George says he is unable to control the fact that he feels “stuck” in his grief and leaves for the airport. That evening, Jennie goes to Carnegie Hall with Faye, but is too upset to enjoy the performance. At the house, she waits for a phone call from George until falling asleep in a chair. The next day, Jennie and Leo meet for lunch, and she admits that she is scared of losing George, while Leo advises her to give him time. As they are about to order, George telephones the restaurant to declare that he feels better after “walking around the block” via the Los Angeles airport and reveals that he is at home. Unable to hail a cab, Jennie runs to the house. When she arrives, George tells Jennie that during the plane flight he realized that he should embrace happiness by starting his life over with her. After a kiss, he reads from his recently finished novel, Falling Into Place, which begins with a dedication to Jennie.