At First Sight

Amy arrives for a spa vacation outside New York City where Virgil, the spa's masseur, gives her a massage. She is overwhelmed and starts crying, and Virgil gently comforts her. In the moment, she realizes that Virgil is blind.

Virgil asks Amy out and their relationship begins to blossom. They spend time learning about each other beyond the surface, with Amy seeing the world through Virgil's perspective.

Virgil reveals he became blind at age three and the last thing he saw was something fluffy. He explains how this memory still haunts his understanding of sight. His vulnerability adds depth to his trust in Amy.

Amy researches Virgil's condition and learns about Doctor Charles Aaron, who suggests surgery to restore his sight. Virgil refuses the operation at first, fearing the cost and uncertainty.

Jennie reveals their father left the family after attempting various treatments to restore Virgil's sight. The revelation adds weight to the theme of family and abandonment.

Virgil decides to undergo the operation and the initial result is a success, restoring his sight. However, after recovery, he becomes disoriented and struggles to perceive light and distance. Dr. Aaron then directs him to Phil Webster, a visual physiotherapist.

Virgil and Amy move to New York City and begin rebuilding their life together. Yet Virgil's new condition makes it hard for him to read Amy's face and sense everyday cues, placing strain on their relationship.

At a party, Virgil walks into a glass pane, a collision caused by his impaired perception. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of adapting to sight loss in a crowded social setting.

Virgil's father watches him on television and arranges a reunion. Virgil goes to his father's workplace but cannot bring himself to face him yet, highlighting unresolved issues.

During a deep session, Webster emphasizes that Virgil should not just 'see' but 'look' and engage with the world. Virgil confesses the strain with Amy but insists she remains the most important thing in his life.

Amy returns from a work trip to Atlanta with feelings of commitment and a plan to repair the relationship. She finds Virgil in a park, looking for the horizon in the city and wanting to share it with her.

Virgil's sight deteriorates again and he learns from Dr. Aaron that his vision is fading once more. He confronts his father, who reveals he left because he felt he failed to help, and Virgil argues about how his mother and sister suffered.

Virgil plans to travel with Amy, but hides that he is going blind and takes her to a New York Rangers game to see something he truly wants to see. There, he realizes the fluffy memory was cotton candy and suffers a long vision blackout. He tells Amy that he is going blind, and she struggles to accept it.

Back at home, Virgil and Amy argue about their future. He decides to return to his old routines and adapt to losing his sight, turning to magazines, pictorials, and sunsets as his horizon. He endures a period of accepting his condition by living in the present.

In time, Amy reconnects with Virgil in a park with a guide dog. She apologizes for trying to change him and invites him to walk and see what they see together. They leave the park side by side, ready to face the world again.