In 1973, despite being next-door neighbors, Holly and Marina come from distinctly different backgrounds. Holly, a Jewish girl with an overprotective mother, contrasts sharply with Marina, whose laid-back mother and absent father influence her carefree nature. It's during this time that Holly develops a crush on Marina's older brother, Nat.
Fast forward to 1978, where the two friends find themselves lounging on Marina's bed, sharing moments of boredom. Excitement brews when Marina rushes over to share the news of a party hosted by Nat's girlfriend, Carolyn. Upon arriving at the party, the atmosphere shifts as the group proposes a game, which turns out to be a dangerous encounter with heroin. As the night unfolds, Nat's girlfriend departs with two men. Although Marina is eager to chase after them, Holly pleads with her to stay. In a spur of the moment, Holly kisses Nat before they succumb to intimacy. This stirs Marina's jealousy, as she lashes out at Holly, claiming Nat's actions were fueled by intoxication and that he likely didn't truly see her. The following morning, Nat seeks to mend things by sending a message through Marina, declaring their night together as "beautiful" but unfortunate due to timing. In a fit of anger, Marina tears up his note before lying to Holly, saying, "no," while promising that they will remain a constant in each other's lives.
By 1982, Holly and Marina enroll in the same university, where they unknowingly compete for the affections of the same professor, initially deemed dull by Marina. When Nat makes a surprise visit, chemistry reignites between him and Holly. She resolves to choose him over her professor, but chaos ensues when Holly discovers Marina kissing their shared lover. Distraught, she races back to Nat, momentarily abandoning her previous relationship. A confrontation follows, resulting in a temporary rift between the friends, but they eventually reconcile—though the connection between Holly and Nat is strained due to misunderstandings instigated by Marina. At a New Year's celebration, the trio's tension escalates when Nat announces his upcoming marriage to Isabel.
In 1989, the characters’ lives have evolved: Holly is a writer in a relationship chosen by Marina, while Marina is dating a Jewish doctor. A poignant encounter occurs when Nat visits Holly, expressing that he constantly converses with her in his thoughts. Their moment is cut short when Holly’s boyfriend arrives, prompting her to ask Nat to leave. Subsequently, Holly considers a move to America, but Marina intervenes with distressing news of her pregnancy.
Years later, the group gathers for another New Year’s Eve bash, and amidst a game of "Guess Who?", Nat attempts to describe someone deeply. Misunderstandings abound as Holly thinks he's speaking of Isabel, whereas Isabel claims he's identifying Holly. Bored with the game, Marina suggests a switch to "sardines." As they navigate the dark house, Marina finds herself kissing Holly’s boyfriend, leading to heightened tensions. Holly and Nat reconnect, with Holly revealing her own silent conversations with him. When Holly's boyfriend rebuffs her advances, Marina, feeling a surge of emotions, bursts outside. A decisive confrontation ensues where Holly declares they must end their friendship, to which Marina retorts, "there's no me without you!" However, Holly stands firm, asserting her independence. As Holly makes her departure, Nat catches up with her, asking if he can join her on the bus ride.
Fast forward to 2001, and the dynamic has changed yet again. Holly and Nat are parents to a daughter, while Marina has both a daughter and a son. Though the once inseparable friends now appear distant, they both acknowledge each other’s presence for the sake of their children, who have formed a budding friendship of their own.
