African-American widower Matt Younger and his young daughter Stefanie travel from Washington D.C. to London for a vacation and for Matt to participate in a dirt bike competition. Welcomed by longtime friends Henry and Marsha Barlow, Matt arranges for Stefanie to stay with the Barlows and their twin daughters while he checks into a hotel to prepare for the race. Chatting with Henry outside of the hotel, Matt is drawn to a striking young African woman who hurries toward them and purposely walks in front of them to conceal herself from an Asian man trailing her. Intrigued, Matt and Henry do not give the woman away and after her pursuer departs, she thanks the men and leaves. Later, Matt spots the young woman in a nearby park and hurries after her, but she disappears. The next day at the dirt bike trials, Matt notices a man in a trench coat carefully scrutinizing his performance. After the trials, Matt and Stefanie spend a day sightseeing. When Stefanie returns to the Barlows’, Matt is surprised to spot the young African woman followed by the man in the trench coat walking near Trafalgar Square. Trailing them into a museum, Matt purposely intercepts with the man, allowing the young woman to slip away. Moments later around the corner, the woman greets Matt and thanks him, then returns to the museum. Matt goes after her and, introducing himself, asks her for drinks, which she declines. When Matt then invites her to a performance of the North African ballet that evening, the young woman again demurs. Charmed by Matt’s persistence, however, she agrees to take a walk with him. Stepping outside, the woman asks Matt to retrieve some books left behind at the museum desk and at the doorway, Matt turns back to see her approached by an African man with whom she exchanges sharp words in Swahili before entering a limousine and disappearing once again. That evening, Henry accompanies Matt and Stefanie to the ballet, where Matt is surprised to see the young woman in traditional African garb arrive with an older man, and speak to numerous Soviet officials. Henry identifies them as Torundan Ambassador George Oswandu and his niece Catherine. Back at the hotel after the performance, a startled Matt receives a call from Catherine, who cheerfully tells him that she will now accept his cocktail invitation and awaits him in the lobby. Pleased, but wary, Matt meets her and at his inquiry over her secretive behavior, she explains that she is helping her uncle make diplomatic contact with Soviets, Israelis and Asians in order to bring crucial materials to her small, struggling nation. Intrigued, Matt escorts Catherine to a nightclub featuring an African band, Zubaba, and after enjoying several dances, the couple gets to know each other, although Matt avoids describing his work. When the African man who picked up Catherine at the museum arrives at the club, Catherine bids Matt goodnight and promises to watch his race the following day. Over the next few days Catherine and Matt spend time together and Catherine reveals that she had Matt investigated and learned that he is a physician who specializes in managing clinics in ghetto areas. A few evenings later, after a romantic dinner at an African restaurant, Catherine invites Matt to return to her private apartment at the Torundan Embassy where they spend the night together. Realizing that he has fallen in love, Matt then introduces Catherine to Stefanie and, as a surprise, takes them both on a helicopter tour over the country estates outside of London. During the flight, however, Matt notices Catherine is in increasing physical discomfort and orders the pilot to return. On the ground, Catherine tells Matt that she is only airsick and heads to the restroom, but disappears soon after. Alarmed, Matt visits the embassy where the ambassador refuses to provide information on Catherine. Returning to the hotel, Matt is disconcerted to find a revived Catherine playing with Stefanie. Skeptical, Matt examines Catherine briefly, then takes her to a clinic where Henry works. Upon conducting a blood test, Matt’s suspicions are confirmed when Catherine tests positive for the incurable, frequently fatal sickle cell. After confirming that she has the full-blown anemia and not just the trait, Catherine reveals that her mother died of the disease when she was 22 and Catherine realizes that, at 27, she is on borrowed time. Catherine then confides that the African man who frequently follows her is her private physician, Dr. Joseph Myomo, and the man in the trench coat is a detective who keeps track of her movements for her uncle. Acknowledging that much of what has appeared as mysterious behavior is Catherine coping with her precarious health, Catherine apologizes to Matt. To her amazement, Matt proposes, asking her to return to Washington with him and Stefanie. When Catherine does not answer, Matt then asks her to come to Portsmouth the next day for his next dirt bike race. The following day, Matt changes his plans to take the train with Stefanie to Portsmouth and instead reveals the truth about Catherine’s health as well as his wish to marry her. Both saddened yet delighted, Stefanie gives her consent to her father’s plans. That evening, Catherine finds Matt at the embassy, having discussed his plans with George and Joseph. Aware of her uncle and Joseph’s deep concern, Catherine nevertheless says she will commit only to accompanying Matt to Portsmouth, nothing more. Departing the next day, Matt, Catherine and Stefanie drive through the countryside to a secluded private cottage. Stefanie relates her memories of her mother and understanding of Matt’s work to Catherine and later the three go sailing, horseback riding and walking. The next day are trials for the Portsmouth race and afterward, Catherine teaches several children a traditional African dance, then cooks Matt and Stefanie a homemade dinner. Later that night, however, Catherine suffers another painful crisis and Matt rushes her to the local hospital where, using Joseph’s instructions, he oversees her treatment and misses the bike competition. After Catherine is stabilized, she tells Matt she will accept his proposal if he will allow her a few more days to recover. Upon their return to London, Catherine asks to meet privately with her uncle and agrees to meet Matt at the Barlows’ later. At the embassy Catherine tells George of her decision, explaining that she knows she is in the December of her life and yearns for a husband and child before she dies. George reminds her that Matt has already lost a wife and Stefanie a mother, and leaves Catherine to reconsider. When Catherine does not appear at the Barlows, Matt goes to the embassy and in answer to his inquiries, George takes him to a large party at the Russian embassy where Matt finds Catherine in political discussions. Catherine meets Matt privately in the garden and assures him there was no pressure placed on her and Matt acknowledges there was never any real choice for her. Giving Matt a traditional necklace to present to Stefanie, Catherine bids him farewell and thanks him for giving her a “warm December.”