In Altoona, Pennsylvania, a New Yorker named Frankie attends her godson’s baptism. Afterwards, at a family gathering, she shows concern for her alcoholic mother. Meanwhile, ex-convict Johnny is released from the nearby Rockview Correctional Institution, and announces his intention to start a new life in New York City. Late that evening, a tearful Frankie takes a bus back to the city. On her way to work in the morning, she notes the prices of videocassette recorders on display in a shop window. When she arrives at Nick’s Apollo Cafe, she learns that her coworker, Helen, is leaving early because she feels dizzy. Although Nick, the owner, is distressed, Frankie and another waitress named Nedda tend to the cafe’s customers. Johnny walks in and asks for work as a short order cook. Nick reads Johnny’s prison references and agrees to give him a chance the following day. That night, Frankie returns to her sixth floor walk-up apartment, surprised to see a stranger hanging shelves in the front room. He introduces himself as Bobby, a friend of her neighbor, Tim. Just then, Tim bursts in and welcomes Frankie home with a kiss. Later, he sends Bobby out to walk the dog, and eagerly asks the tired waitress what she thinks of his new boyfriend. She admits he is nice. Elsewhere in New York, Johnny eats dinner alone. Later, he solicits a prostitute to spend the night with him. However, he insists she keep her clothes on and simply lie in the bed next to him. The next day, the other cooks at the Apollo admire Johnny’s skill chopping vegetables, while Frankie’s coworker, Cora, remarks on his good looks. Unimpressed, Frankie insists he remake a plate of food. Johnny complies, and the two spend the rest of the day giving each other sidelong glances. At the end of her shift, Frankie studies the operating manual for a videocassette recorder, until Nick announces to the staff that Helen has been hospitalized. Cora and Frankie go to visit the elderly woman, fearful that they might also end up old and alone. The next day at the Apollo, when a customer suffers an epileptic seizure, Johnny and Frankie rush to assist the man. Johnny asks Frankie on a date, but she brushes him off without giving a reason. Later, Frankie spends the night spying on her neighbors from her apartment window. Within the week, Helen passes away. Frankie attends the funeral with Cora and Nedda, and is surprised to see Johnny there, paying his respects. Later, at the café, she asks about this sympathetic gesture, and Johnny again attempts to coerce her into going on a date. Scorned by Frankie, he flirts with Cora, and that night, they have sex. Afterward, they agree that the tryst was meaningless, and the next day at work, Cora tells Frankie and Nedda about the encounter. In the ensuing weeks, Frankie keeps a watchful eye on Johnny. When he invites her to attend a coworker’s going-away party with him, she reluctantly gives him her address. On the night of the party, Tim advises Frankie what to wear, while Bobby hooks up her new videocassette recorder. Johnny surprises her by arriving early, but Tim seizes the opportunity to approve his friend’s date. At the party, Johnny attempts to convince Frankie they are a good match, and invites her to dance, but she urges him to ask Nedda, instead. On the way home, Johnny buys his shy date a flower, before suggesting they go back to her apartment. Frankie protests, but he kisses her passionately, and she changes her mind. After an intimate evening together, they go to work at the Apollo, where Cora waits on a pregnant customer. Johnny asks Frankie if she likes children, but she evades answering. Later, they walk through Central Park, and Johnny suggests they spend the evening together. When Frankie informs him that it is her bowling night, Johnny drives alone to a specific suburban address, where he observes two young children playing on the lawn in front of a house. Afterward, he goes to the bowling alley, but Frankie acts standoffish when she sees him. Johnny professes his love, but Frankie becomes defensive when he mentions starting a family, angrily informing him that she cannot have children. A day or two later, Frankie switches her shift to avoid seeing Johnny, but he does the same, and they are forced to talk to each other. After Johnny admits that he spent time in prison and was once married, Frankie confides that, three years ago, the love of her life cheated on her with her best friend. She asks Johnny if he has children, and he confesses he does, but he is nervous about re-introducing himself to them. After work, Johnny walks Frankie to her apartment. There, they lie in the moonlight listening to piano music and sharing secrets. However, the intimate conversation makes Frankie uncomfortable, and she asks Johnny to leave. He insists his feelings are sincere, prompting Frankie to reveal that a previous boyfriend physically abused her, and she is afraid to fall in love again. However, as dawn breaks, Frankie decides to trust Johnny “no matter what.” The lovers brush their teeth and climb back into bed together.