Walt Tenor and Bob Tenor are conjoined twins who dream big while navigating the everyday reality of sharing one body. They run Quikee Burger, a diner in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, where a bold three-minute challenge guarantees free meals if orders aren’t completed in time, a testament to how perfectly in sync they are when they work together. Walt is outgoing, eager to become a Hollywood actor, and thrives on social energy, especially with women, while Bob is introverted, cautious, and often stays out of the spotlight.
They sustain a long-distance romance with May Fong from California, a relationship Bob keeps private, having never met the woman in person. Walt lights up on stage, starring in a one-man show, while Bob remains mostly in the background due to his stage fright. As the play becomes a success, Walt convinces his reluctant brother to chase a larger dream and move with him to California.
In California, they rent a modest apartment and strike up a friendship with aspiring actress April Mercedes. When she asks about their conjoinment, Walt explains they share a liver that is largely Bob’s. The idea of surgical separation frightens Walt, who fears losing the life he’s always known, and Bob, who would lose his brother and his sense of self. The difference in their ages—Walt appearing older—stems from their shared anatomy, a detail that becomes a talking point as they navigate new surroundings.
Hollywood proves tough for Walt, and his agent Morty O’Reilly isn’t any help, even suggesting a risky pornographic role at one point. Cher, frustrated by the prospect of a primetime project called Honey and the Beaze, tries to offload her problem by hiring Walt as a co-star, convinced the show will fail. The producers, however, adapt by keeping Bob out of frame and using bluescreen effects, turning the show into a surprising hit and launching Walt into celebrity status.
May Fong eventually meets Bob without Walt’s knowledge, and a romance develops. The twins’ attempt to keep their conjoined nature a secret creates tension, especially as Walt must accompany them everywhere, sometimes disguising himself as a giant teddy bear. When May discovers them in bed, she concludes they’re a gay couple; Bob reveals they are indeed conjoined twins, leaving her stunned and ultimately fleeing.
Word leaks about their condition, and rather than hide, the twins embrace their famous status, becoming recognizable figures with commercials and appearances on major talk shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Walt enjoys the success, but Bob misses May and grows increasingly unhappy with the arrangement. Realizing that Bob needs independence to be happy, Walt pushes for surgical separation.
Bob refuses at first, prompting Walt to throw himself into wild behavior—drinking, stealing a purse, and landing in jail. Although it’s Walt who drinks, Bob bears the physical and emotional aftermath due to their shared liver. After a tense night and struggle, Bob finally agrees to the operation.
On the eve of the surgery, May returns to apologize to Bob for leaving. He tells her they are going to be separated, a decision she doesn’t think is right, but he insists it’s what’s best. At the hospital, the head surgeon confirms that the operation was successful.
With Walt and May back in Oak Bluffs, life is quieter but not easier. Bob and May marry, and May is pregnant, while Bob finds himself adjusting to life apart from his brother. Walt, too, faces a new reality: his brother’s absence leaves a void, and he eventually moves back to Oak Bluffs after some soul-searching with Cher.
A year later, the twins run Quikee Burger together, and Bob and May are building a life as a family. They even simulate their former conjoinment with Velcro clothing to share a joke about their past. Walt continues to seek creative fulfillment in local theater, including a musical where he and Meryl Streep play Bonnie and Clyde, underscoring how far he has come from their shared beginnings.
