Making Love

Zack and Claire meet in college and fall in love, marrying after eight years. They build a successful life in the Los Angeles area and buy a big house. Their shared tastes, including Gilbert and Sullivan and Rupert Brooke, help anchor a outwardly happy, conventional life.

Zack begins to feel attraction to men and starts visiting gay bars in West Hollywood during lunch hours. He keeps these impulses private to preserve his image and marriage. The internal tension between who he is and who he presents himself to be begins to mount.

During a routine medical check-up, Zack meets Bart McGuire, an openly gay novelist who leads a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle. Their mutual attraction grows as they begin seeing each other socially. The encounter pulls Zack toward a side of himself he has not fully acknowledged.

Zack asks Bart on a dinner date and lies to Claire about working late. They go to Bart's house, and Zack experiences sex with a man for the first time. He longs to stay the night, but Bart brushes him off, leaving the emotional door open yet closed.

After leaving Bart's place, Zack challenges Bart's fear of intimacy, which stems from an abusive father. This confrontation forces both men to confront their emotional barriers. The dynamic shifts from casual sex to something more complicated.

Claire becomes increasingly worried about the distance in her marriage and seeks a year-long leave of absence. Her boss instead promotes her and sends her to New York City on a weekend business trip. The trip sets the stage for Zack to spend more time with Bart.

While Claire is away, Zack and Bart spend more time together in New York and clash over honesty. Zack critiques Bart's outline for his new novel, which becomes a catalyst for Bart to question Zack's own truthfulness. The tension deepens as their bond grows more complicated.

That night, Zack tells Bart that he loves him, but Bart is afraid of commitment and pushes him away the next morning. The confession leaves both men unsettled and uncertain about a future together. They remain emotionally entangled, even as distance grows.

Bart realizes he has real feelings for Zack but isn't ready for the commitment he desires. He is last seen in West Hollywood bars cruising, continuing his pattern of casual encounters. The relationship remains unresolved and open-ended.

Claire returns from New York and Zack finally confesses that he has feelings for men. Claire's reaction is hurtful, and Zack leaves to avoid a painful confrontation. The marriage begins to crack as truth and desire pull them apart.

Claire discovers a matchbook with a man's name and a number, hinting at an ongoing affair. She confronts Zack and learns he has lived a relatively normal life with other partners. She tries to persuade him to stay, but Zack insists on living honestly and proposes separate lives while he pursues a new job in New York.

Ultimately they decide to divorce, acknowledging that they want different futures. They part with mutual care and the understanding that each has found happiness elsewhere. The breakup ends their marriage but preserves a respectful connection.

A few years into the future, Winnie Bates dies, prompting Zack to travel to Los Angeles for the funeral. Zack is now living in New York in a committed relationship with an investment banker named Ken. He returns to LA for Winnie’s funeral and reflects on how his life has changed.

Claire has remarried to an architect and has a young son named Rupert, suggesting a fresh family life. Her happiness contrasts with Zack's, but she remains supportive of his right to live honestly. They share a final moment of mutual gratitude for each other’s happiness at Winnie's funeral.

Throughout the film, Bart and Claire deliver mini-monologues, speaking directly to the camera about aspects of their lives and the scenes that had just played out. These asides provide candid, introspective perspectives that deepen the audience's understanding of the characters. The device adds a reflective, intimate layer to the storytelling.