In Los Angeles, California, twenty-two-year-old Christopher Newley suffers from an unspecified autoimmune disease that has forced him to live in a hermitically sealed room his entire life. His room is equipped with the latest in video, music and workout equipment, but Chris has no physical contact with other human beings. His meals, mail and newspapers are delivered to him through an airtight passage to ensure no germs enter his living environment. His millionaire father, Frank Newley, head of Newley Satellites, is working on a special astronaut-like suit so Chris can leave the glass-enclosed room someday. Chris has been exchanging letters with rising pop singer Alley Daniels, who has a strong local following, but has not yet had a breakout national hit. Chris watches Alley’s music videos frequently and dreams of being able to meet her in person, even if a glass wall will separate them. He writes Alley requesting she come to visit him. She is nervous about the idea, but her manager and lover, Jean-Claude, encourages her to go. Chris gives her a song he has written for her when she comes to the house. However, Chris is so excited to be in Alley’s presence, monitor alarms go off when his blood pressure rises and heart palpitates. Alley leaves quickly, while Chris’ mother, Diana, chastises him for having a visitor. Jean-Claude persuades Alley to film a commercial for Grendha Shoes, which should help her get national exposure. Alley says she does not like the idea of doing commercials; she wants a record deal instead. Jean-Claude says he is working on that, then telephones the National Enquirer tabloid magazine offering a story on the “bubble boy.” Alley goes to visit Chris again, apologizing for upsetting him on the first visit. She plays a cassette tape of a new song and dances for him. With some encouragement, Chris starts dancing too. They get along well and he kisses her against the glass wall. After that, Alley visits Chris frequently. Jean-Claude tires to persuade Ray, a music promoter, to let Alley be the opening act on the European tour of the hot new group, The Cats, but Ray says she is not big enough yet. When Jean-Claude says he can get Alley on the cover of the National Enquirer, Ray says he will book her as soon as she appears on the cover. Chris is delighted when Alley sneaks a tiny dog named “Feedback” into the house. However, even though Chris is protected behind the glass wall, his mother is distressed by the dog’s presence. Diana Newley takes Alley aside, wondering what she really wants. Alley is offended by the question. Afterward, Chris asks Alley to marry him, promising she will be rich, but she does not give him an answer. Alley throws a small party at her Hollywood Hills house and introduces Jean-Claude to Jasper, who has arranged a show for her at The Roxy nightclub on the Sunset Strip. Jean-Claude tells her of his plan to get her on the cover of the National Enquirer. Alley says she does not want to exploit Chris in that way. However, a few days later, Alley and Chris are posing as a couple for a National Enquirer photographer. Noting that the glass wall separates them, a reporter asks about intimate details of their relationship. Jean-Claude suggests there are plenty of other men who can satisfy Alley’s sexual needs. Hearing that, Chris becomes angry and kicks everyone out. He decides Alley was just using him for publicity, but a week later when the magazine comes out, he has the cover framed. Alley apologizes to Chris, saying she is confused by her feelings. Chris reports he has never felt this like this before and says he loves her. Alley says she loves him too. The two simulate making love, each pressing against the glass wall, pretending to touch the other. Alley agrees to be the opening act for The Cats on their European tour, but puts off telling Chris, worried about how he will react to the news that she will be gone for eight weeks. However, Chris learns of the tour while watching the local “Video One” music channel. He telephones Alley repeatedly, but gets her answering machine. As Alley makes preparations for her European tour, Jean-Claude demands sex as his reward for arranging it. Alley refuses and he slaps her. When Chris telephones again, Jean-Claude answers and says that Alley is busy having sex with him. Upset, Chris begins pacing the floor and throws his keyboard at the glass wall, breaking it. Chris steps outside his room for the first time and runs out of the house. His live-in nurse, Justine, sees him running away, but does not try to stop him, merely saying to herself, “Good luck, Christopher.” As he runs through the streets in the early morning hours, Chris enjoys being outside. He rolls in the grass, smells flowers, and plays with a small dog. Meanwhile, Alley drives to Chris’s house trying to explain. When she learns he is out, she drives around the area, searching for him. A newspaper deliveryman gives Chris a ride to Alley’s house where he waits for her to return. When she gets back, they kiss, touching each other for the first time. They shower together, then go to the beach, where they ride bicycles and play games at an amusement park. Later, they make love. When they return to Alley’s house, Jean-Claude tries to apologize, but Alley fires him. Alley does her show at The Roxy, with Chris in the front row, cheering for her. Afterward, Alley accepts his marriage proposal. The two perform a commitment ceremony and make love on the beach. Police try to arrest them for sleeping on the beach, but the officer recognizes them from the National Enquirer story and instead asks for their autographs. As they walk on the beach, Chris begins to get weak and begs Alley to hold him as tight as she can. At the hospital, Chris is put in intensive care, but doctors say there is nothing they can do for him. He is able to hug his parents for the first time and tells them he loves them. Alley stays with him at the hospital until he dies. After the funeral, Diana Newley wishes Alley well with her career, while Frank Newley gives her a family ring to serve as a wedding ring, saying Chris wanted her to have it. Afterward, Alley does a show and performs the song Chris wrote for her.