As Joey walks through a desolate beach house, her sister Renata peers through a window. Staring out from his office window in Manhattan, their father Arthur talks of his life, his wife Eve, and their children. Eve visits the apartment of Joey and her husband, Michael, interrupting him as he works. Michael becomes increasingly irritated with Eve, an interior designer, as she suggests expensive changes to their home decor. Eve has been unwell for some time and tells Joey about her return to interior design. She also expresses a desire to reunite with Arthur, but Joey has her doubts about this reconciliation. Elsewhere, Renata talks, presumably to a psychiatrist, about her mother’s breakdown years ago, and how she had put Arthur through law school and helped finance his practice. At dinner with Joey, Renata, and Eve, Arthur states his desire to be by himself, but assures them that his separation from Eve may only be temporary. Shocked by the announcement, Eve insists she will move out of the house. Renata later explains, again to the psychiatrist, that she has recently been unable to write. She has been obsessing about death and the purpose of her work. At their apartment, Joey shares with Michael the doubts she has about the direction of her life and, specifically, her career goals. Preparing for Eve’s birthday party, Renata shops with her husband Frederick, struggling to find an acceptable present. Eve’s third daughter, Flyn, an actress who has been filming a television movie in Colorado, joins the family at Eve’s party. Renata and Flyn comfort their mother, encouraging her that the separation from Arthur is only a trial. Meanwhile, Frederick becomes distracted by Flyn’s good looks. In the evening, Frederick and Renata argue over the critical reaction toward his latest book. He feels his wife, a celebrated poet, gives him false support when he has had no success as a writer. Joey congratulates Renata on one of her poems, which was recently published in a magazine. Later, Arthur visits Eve at her new apartment in the city, but he remains distant toward her. After he leaves, Eve seals the windows and doors with tape to block airflow, and attempts suicide by turning on the gas oven and stove. However, an ambulance delivers Eve to the hospital in time to save her life. There, Renata and Arthur discuss plans for Eve and decide the best solution is to take her back to the sanitarium. Arthur also expresses his concern about the evident antagonism between Joey and Renata. Some time later, Joey and Renata argue after a visit to their mother. Joey accuses Renata of abandoning her by staying home in Connecticut, and leaving Joey to take care of Eve. At home, Renata experiences a strange physical and mental sensation and tries to describe the feeling to Frederick, who comforts her. They look through photographs taken by Joey that, they both agree, are not very good. Again, the two argue about the quality of Frederick’s work. Joey arrives late to meet Michael and her mother one day as they pick out home furnishings. Distraught, Joey reveals to Michael that she is pregnant and does not wish to have the baby. Joey later argues with Eve about the possibility of a reconciliation with Arthur. On the way home, Joey fights with Michael about her need to find an artistic pursuit, and the possibility of having a child. One evening, Renata and Frederick host a dinner party for Arthur, Joey and Michael. Arthur arrives accompanied by Pearl, his new girlfriend, a boisterous and talkative woman who clashes with Arthur’s intellectual daughters. After an awkward dinner, Pearl shows Michael and Frederick card tricks, while Arthur informs Joey and Renata that he plans to marry Pearl as soon as possible. Renata and Joey worry about Eve’s potential reaction. They also note their concern over the brief period that Arthur and Pearl have known each other, questioning Pearl’s motivation for marrying their wealthy father. Later, Arthur and Eve visit a church together. Hoping to get back together, Eve suggests they take a trip to the Far East. Arthur responds by saying he wants to finalize their divorce, and has already discussed the news with Eve’s doctor. Infuriated by the thought of a permanent division, as well as by the fact that Arthur went to her doctor behind her back, Eve knocks over a row of candles and storms out of the building. Everyone, except for Eve, gathers at the family’s beach house for Arthur and Pearl’s wedding. Walking on the beach, Flyn and Renata discuss their lives and aging. Inside, Joey tells Arthur that she just wants him to be happy. He asks that she tell Pearl that as well, and she agrees. Alone on the beach, Renata stares worriedly at the ocean, while Frederick flirts with Flyn inside the house. After the wedding ceremony, Pearl takes turns dancing with everyone, but Joey rejects her. Dancing alone, Pearl accidentally knocks over a vase. Joey scolds her, then runs out. Later in the evening, Frederick catches Flyn taking cocaine in the garage. He kisses her. When she resists, Frederick pins her against the car. She breaks free and stumbles to the ground. He forces himself on her more aggressively, but she manages to escape. Later, sitting alone in the dark, Joey sees that her mother has arrived. Joey talks to Eve about their relationship and accuses her of being “too perfect to live in this world.” When Pearl enters the room, Eve disappears. Outside, Eve walks to the beach and straight into the sea, and Joey chases after her. Pearl and Michael follow them outside, and Michael saves Joey from the rough tide. While Eve drowns, Pearl resuscitates Joey on the beach. After their mother’s funeral, Joey writes in her diary about returning to the beach house. She recalls warm childhood memories involving her mother and her sisters. Somberly, the three girls gather and look out a window toward the beach, commenting on the peacefulness of the calm water.