In the early 1990s, young, single people navigate the dating scene in Seattle, Washington. Linda Powell is happy that she finally lives alone in a duplex, with a parking space of her own. She works for the Seattle Environmental Council, and, in the aftermath of an oil spill, is trying to arrange a coastal clean-up trip to Alaska. When her car breaks down, a dashing Spanish student named Luiz helps her. He informs Linda that his student visa expires in one week, and the two begin a whirlwind romance. On his last day in Seattle, Luiz gives Linda a ring and promises to return to her in two months. In turn, she gives him her garage door opener and invites him to park in her parking space. Later, Linda goes to a nightclub with her co-worker, Ruth, and sees Luiz with another young woman. They make eye contact briefly, but Luiz shrugs and ignores Linda when she passes him. Devastated, Linda goes to buy a new garage door opener and vows never to lose it again. Elsewhere, Steve Dunne recalls his most recent breakup with a girl named Jennifer. He wishes his romantic life were as simple as a postcard he once received, with a black-and-white photograph of a young couple kissing. When his father abandoned him at an early age, he gave Steve the parting advice, “Have fun. Stay single.” Steve’s twenty-three-year-old neighbor, Janet Livermore, worries that time is running out for her to do something “bizarre.” She takes inspiration from her boyfriend, Cliff Poncier, the front man for a “grunge rock” band called “Citizen Dick.” Even though he is dismissive and openly dates other girls, Janet is hopelessly devoted to Cliff, who lives in the apartment below hers. One night, Steve Dunne goes to a rock club and notices Linda Powell across the room. Although she rejects his advances, they run into each other later that night at a newsstand and strike up a conversation. Despite Linda’s reluctance to enter into another relationship, the two begin dating. At his Department of Transportation job, Steve makes headway with a proposal for a commuter “Supertrain” that will mitigate traffic, while Linda is granted a boat for her month-long Alaska trip. In the throes of new love, Linda learns she is pregnant. She and Steve debate whether or not to keep the baby. In a park, as Linda eats a chili dog, Steve spontaneously proposes marriage, and she accepts. On their way home, they get into a car accident. Linda wakes up in the hospital with Steve by her side, and guesses correctly that she lost the baby. She falls into a depression. Determining that time alone would be helpful, she goes to Alaska. In the meantime, worried that her breasts are too small for her boyfriend, Cliff, Janet Livermore decides to have breast augmentation surgery. On the day of the surgery, however, Dr. Jeffrey Jamison discourages her from going through with it. The doctor reveals his feelings for Janet and tells her she is perfect the way she is. Janet takes his advice and forgoes the surgery. In a conversation with Steve, she explains the qualities she used to look for in a mate, including good looks, independence, like-mindedness, and intimacy. She says now all she wants is someone who says “bless you” or “gesundheit” when she sneezes. Soon after, at Cliff’s apartment, Janet fakes a sneeze. Cliff fails to say “bless you,” and instead shoves a box of tissues in her lap and urges her not to get him sick. Janet breaks up with Cliff. Instead of feeling heartbroken, she is relieved to be single again. Debbie Hunt, who lives in the same building, decides to use “Expect the Best,” a video dating service that her neighbors gave her as a gag gift. She hires a pretentious young filmmaker to direct her video, and arranges a date with Jamie, an attractive man who is obsessed with bicycling. When Debbie goes to the wrong restaurant, she receives a message from Jamie, suggesting they meet at her apartment. However, Debbie arrives home to find Jamie flirting with her roommate, who offers Debbie eighty dollars for stealing her date and promises to do the dishes for a month. Debbie flies to Mexico alone and is disappointed to be seated by a young boy. However, getting off the plane, she meets the boy’s divorced father and falls in love. The man begins sending flowers on a daily basis, and Cliff, who works part-time for a florist, delivers them. Inspired to win Janet back, he begins leaving flowers in her apartment and installs a new stereo system in her car, but Janet remains uninterested. Meanwhile, Linda returns from her trip to Alaska. Sensing an emotional distance between them, Steve suggests they can be friends instead of lovers. He immediately regrets backing out of the relationship and leaves a heartfelt message on her answering machine, declaring his love. The microcassette tape inside the machine runs out, and Linda never hears the message. She falls back into a stale relationship with Andy, her college boyfriend. After Mayor Weber rejects his Supertrain proposal, Steve quits his job and retreats to his apartment. Janet becomes worried about him and establishes a secret knock. One day, he hears the knock, and is surprised to find Linda at his door. He asks what took her so long, and she jokes that she was stuck in traffic. They embrace, and make love on top of Steve’s garage door opener. Meanwhile, on her way to the parking garage, Janet runs into Cliff. She sneezes, and he says, “Bless you.” Realizing she still loves him, she gazes into his eyes, and they kiss. + −