A Couch in New York

Psychoanalyst Henry Harriston posts an ad offering his apartment for a housing swap, hoping to escape his routine. Béatrice Saulnier, a Parisian dancer, responds to the ad and they agree to swap without meeting. The arrangement promises a collision of boundaries and daily life that will ripple through both of their worlds.

The swap is set in motion: Béatrice moves into Henry's high-tech New York apartment while Henry arrives at Béatrice's Parisian flat. He is immediately horrified to find it filthy and chaotic, a stark contrast to his expectations. The jarring difference foreshadows the trouble the arrangement will unleash.

Back at Henry's New York residence, his patients begin showing up at his apartment seeking therapy during the swap. Béatrice steps in to listen to their stories, effectively serving as Henry's temporary replacement. The overlapping patients blur the lines between doctor and host.

Béatrice's various lovers start appearing at her apartment and engage with Henry about their affection for Béatrice. Henry discovers a cache of love letters addressed to Béatrice, revealing a complex network of past romances. The combination of patients and lovers compounds the chaos.

Henry begins to suspect Béatrice is running a scam as calls from her lovers flood the apartment. He decides to leave the scene and return to New York, hoping to reclaim some control. The disorienting turn pushes both characters toward reconsidering their arrangement.

In Paris, Henry pretends to be a fake patient named John to confront Béatrice in her own space. The session is awkward and stilted as Béatrice and Henry alternately say 'Yes' to each other, but the moment reveals their growing attraction. Despite the deception, both feel drawn together and agree to continue the ruse.

After a session focusing on Henry's strained relationship with his mother, both realize they might be falling in love. The emotional lines blur as professional boundaries begin to crumble. Béatrice's friend cautions against pursuing a relationship with a patient, complicating their feelings.

Beatrice tells Henry that their sessions must end as she plans to return to Paris. Henry tries to reply with his confession, but the moment is interrupted when she hangs up the phone, leaving his words unheard. The impending separation tests the sincerity of their feelings.

Driven by longing, Henry rushes to the airport for a standby flight to Paris. The plane is overbooked, but he manages to secure the last ticket, only to discover it belongs to Béatrice. He boards, hoping to find her, while Béatrice remains behind.

Back in Paris, Béatrice cannot go to her own apartment, so she stays with a neighbor and talks to Henry from a distance across the terrace. Through plants that flourish in her absence, the two begin a whispered dialogue. Henry speaks to her without being seen, creating a fragile yet intimate connection.

Beatrice finally confesses that she fell in love with one of Henry's patients, John. The revelation reframes everyone involved and shifts the balance of power in their relationship. Henry's presence remains ambiguous, but the confession deepens their bond.

Beatrice realizes that John is actually Henry. She climbs back into the apartment, crossing the boundary between patient and lover, and kisses Henry. The revelation completes their emotional convergence and confirms their mutual love.