Forget Paris

Mickey Gordon, an NBA referee, honors his recently deceased father's wishes by burying the World War II Army platoon in France. The plan is delayed when the airline misplaces the casket, risking the ceremony's fulfillment. The mishap casts a shadow over Mickey's pride and the emotional weight he carries as a public figure.

Ellen Andrews, an airline employee from Wichita living in Paris, helps locate the missing casket. She ensures the burial proceeds and accompanies Mickey to offer support. Their immediate connection begins to form amid a solemn ceremony.

After the burial, Mickey rides back to Paris with Ellen and their time together deepens into romance. He chooses to delay his return to the United States to spend more time with her. The relationship becomes the emotional centerpiece of his life.

Loneliness and pressure from life on the road push Mickey to a breaking point during a nationally televised game. He loses his temper and is suspended for a week. The setback forces him to confront the costs of his professional life on his personal happiness.

Mickey travels back to Paris to visit Ellen, hoping to bridge the distance. He learns that she is married but separated, leaving their future uncertain. The revelation tests their commitment and resolve.

Ellen travels to Charlotte to meet Mickey, revealing that she has finalized a divorce. She has left her job in France and the two quickly marry, choosing to build a life together. The decision marks a new chapter in their relationship.

The newlyweds spend a honeymoon period on the road during the NBA season before settling in the San Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles. They establish a home near Mickey's hometown while continuing to follow his basketball schedule. The move signals stability after a turbulent start.

With life in California established, Ellen accepts an entry-level customer service job with American Airlines while Mickey travels with the NBA. The long separation strains their bond, and each day apart challenges their commitment. They begin to navigate a more complex balance of love and career.

Ellen earns a promotion, climbing the corporate ladder and moving further from Mickey's road life. Meanwhile she must tend to her increasingly senile father, Arthur, adding caregiving to her responsibilities. The dynamic reshapes the couple's daily life and priorities.

Feeling unsatisfied at home, Mickey returns to the NBA, while Ellen is absent from their shared life. He discovers she has left, then learns she had returned to Kansas to help family and hand over Arthur to her siblings so they could work on their marriage. The separation intensifies the longing between them.

Ellen is offered a transfer to Dallas, but she refuses to move away with Mickey. Instead, she accepts a transfer to Paris, leaving them living apart yet hopeful. The arrangement underscores how career moves keep driving them in different directions.

Back in the present, a basketball fan at a New York Knicks game recounts an odd moment during the national anthem. The tale hints at the emotional distance and the choices that have kept Mickey and Ellen apart. It sets the stage for a bold decision.

Motivated by the stories and longing, Mickey decides to go AWOL from his NBA duties and heads to Paris to find Ellen. The impulsive move demonstrates his commitment and willingness to risk his career for love. It marks a turning point in their relationship.

In the arena, Mickey spots Ellen in the audience and races to mid-court to meet her. They reconcile there as the lights come on after the anthem, and the entire crowd witnesses their kiss. The moment seals their return to each other.

Mickey and Ellen arrive at the restaurant hand in hand, now re-united, and finish recounting their story to Liz. The storybook ending frames the dinner and confirms that their love endures through distance and time. The friends witness the realization that love and perseverance prevailed.