Sweet November

Nelson Moss, a workaholic advertising executive, meets Sara Deever at the DMV while attempting to take his driving test. Their flirtation draws the attention of the instructor, who misreads the situation and suspects Sara of cheating. This awkward encounter seeds a life-changing connection between them.

During the driving test, Nelson's attempt to ask Sara a question distracts her, leading to her failing the exam. The instructor's suspicion makes it seem like Sara is cheating, worsening the tension between them. The failed test becomes the catalyst for their unlikely romance.

Sara asks Nelson to spend a month with her, insisting it will change his life for the better. She presents it as an opportunity to step outside his relentless work schedule. Intrigued and charmed, Nelson agrees to the unusual arrangement.

On the first night of November, after Nelson is fired and dumped on the same day, Sara invites him into her world. The two sleep together, beginning an intense, life-changing romance. This night marks the official start of their month-long bond.

The next day, Chaz, a close friend and neighbor of Sara, arrives and refers to Nelson as Sara's 'November.' The nickname foreshadows the temporary nature of their time together. It hints at Sara's plan to protect him from the pain of her illness.

Throughout November, Nelson and Sara enjoy joyful moments and fall deeply in love. They reframe Nelson's life through shared experiences, creating memories that feel timeless. Nelson also begins reevaluating the priorities in his career and relationships.

Nelson befriends Abner, a 10-year-old fatherless boy, offering mentorship and companionship. This bond helps Nelson open up emotionally and see his own capacity for care beyond his advertising career. Abner becomes a catalyst for Nelson's personal growth during the November chapter.

Realizing he is in love with Sara, Nelson asks her to marry him, hoping to formalize their bond. The moment shows his commitment despite the uncertainty surrounding her illness. Sara's response underscores the depth of her feelings.

It is revealed that Sara has terminal cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The revelation reframes their relationship as a delicate balance between love and the painful reality of losing her. The couple must confront an imminent, irreversible loss.

To protect Nelson from heartbreak, Sara asks him to end their relationship. Nelson, torn but understanding, agrees to step away so she can face her future without feeling obligated to him. The goodbye is painful, yet born of care.

Nelson makes a dramatic return during Thanksgiving, bringing gifts to remind Sara of their joyful times. His gesture expresses unwavering love and a stubborn hope that their bond can endure. The reunion reinvigorates their fragile connection for a brief moment.

They spend one more day together as Nelson decorates Sara's apartment with November calendars, insisting it can always be November for them. The ritual becomes a symbolic stand against the passage of time. Their last new memory together solidifies in this act.

They share a final intimate moment, but the next morning Sara is dressed and asks Nelson to leave, and the calendars have been removed. The sense of impermanence returns as she prepares to step back into her routine and impending departure.

Sara runs out of her apartment and Nelson chases her through the streets to a foot bridge by the park. She asks him to let her go so that he will always remember her as she was—the happiest version of herself.

Sara then blindfolds Nelson, leads him into the park, and gives him one final kiss. He removes the blindfold to find he is alone at the spot of their first date, his eyes filling with tears as he processes her absence.