The film explores the lives of two couples: Jack and Sally, alongside Gabe and Judy. It begins with Jack and Sally paying a visit to Gabe and Judy's apartment to share the news of their separation. While Gabe is taken aback by this revelation, Judy feels personally attacked and is left feeling devastated. To navigate their confusion, the four of them decide to dine at a Chinese restaurant, hoping to find clarity amidst the emotional turmoil.
A few weeks pass, and Sally finds herself at a colleague's apartment, gearing up for an evening filled with opera and dinner. During this outing, she uses her colleague's phone to reach out to Jack, accusing him of infidelity after discovering he has moved on to someone new.
Soon, Judy and Gabe meet Jack's new girlfriend, Sam, who works as an aerobics instructor. During a shopping trip, Judy’s perception of Sam becomes tainted when Gabe refers to her disparagingly as a "cocktail waitress," leading him to question Jack's decision to leave Sally for her. At the same time, Judy introduces Michael, a colleague from her magazine, to Sally. Although they start dating, Sally finds herself increasingly discontent with the connection.
As events progress, Gabe strikes up a friendship with Rain, a young student who critiques his manuscript. Their relationship takes a romantic turn during her 21st birthday celebration, yet Gabe decides against pursuing this further, adhering to a sense of responsibility.
At a gathering, Jack discovers that Sally has been seeing someone else, igniting jealousy within him. An argument ensues between him and Sam, prompting Jack to rush home only to find Sally in bed with Michael. He pleads for her to reconsider their marriage, but she remains resolute in her refusal.
Just under two weeks later, Jack and Sally find their way back to each other, joining Gabe and Judy for dinner. Following the meal, tensions rise when Gabe confronts Judy about her reluctance to share her poetry, culminating in a misguided advance from him. Judy expresses her belief that their relationship is at an end, leading Gabe to move out shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, Judy begins an affair with Michael.
In the end, while Jack and Sally continue to grapple with their marital issues, they come to terms with these struggles as a part of their desire to stay together. Gabe, on the other hand, opts for solitude, choosing not to date in order to prevent inflicting pain on anyone, including himself. The film concludes with Gabe inquiring of the unseen documentary crew whether he is free to leave, symbolizing a sense of unresolved turmoil within him.
