David and Lisa

David Clemens is brought to a residential psychiatric treatment center by his mother. He is cold and distant and fixates on clocks, at the same time fearing that any touch could kill him. The staff, including Dr. Swinford, begin to orient him to the new environment.

In the center, David throws himself into his studies of clocks and spends little time with others. He reveals a recurring dream in which he murders people using a giant clock, a nightmarish premonition of his internal struggles. The dream foreshadows the violence he fears.

David meets Lisa Brandt, a girl with two personalities—Lisa who speaks in rhymes and Muriel who cannot speak and can only write. He forges a friendship by replying to her in rhymes. Their bond challenges the clinic's routines and introduces a fragile hope.

David begins opening up to his psychiatrist, Dr. Alan Swinford, and becomes friendly with another resident, Simon. Lisa grows jealous of the growing closeness, creating tension between her and David. The dynamics at the center become more complicated as trust develops.

A visit from David's mother triggers an argument that unsettles him. His parents decide that he should leave the treatment center, seeking a different approach for his care. David resists the idea but faces departure as an option.

After returning to his parents' house, David's stay is brief and he runs away back to the treatment center. He seeks the structure and familiarity of the clinic, illustrating his struggle to reintegrate into normal life. The cycle highlights the fragility of his progress.

One day Lisa realizes she embodies both Lisa and Muriel. This breakthrough intensifies her desire to connect with David. She seeks him out, hoping to bridge the gap created by their respective disorders. The moment marks a turning point in their relationship.

Lisa learns she is both personalities and tries to reach David through the music by interrupting Simon's Bach performance with the metronome. David's temper flares in response to the disruption. Lisa then runs away from the center, initiating her escape toward Philadelphia.

Lisa slips away unnoticed and boards a train toward Center City, Philadelphia. David and the staff search frantically but fail to locate her that night. The city becomes a backdrop for her escape and orbit of worry around the center's staff.

The next morning, David suspects that Lisa may have returned to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. He and Dr. Swinford rush to the museum to search for her. The museum's grandeur contrasts with the tense pursuit, setting the stage for a resolution.

David finds Lisa on the museum steps and she appears cured, speaking in prose. This moment signals a breakthrough in her condition and in David's own fears. The two share a meaningful exchange that hints at a new trust.

For the first time, David overcomes his fear of touch and allows Lisa to hold his hand. They walk down the museum stairs together, sharing a connection that closes the film on a note of hopeful healing. The ending suggests a new path forward for both of them.