After graduating from college, April Delongpre (Sherilyn Fenn), a 21-year-old debutante, returns to her family's home in Alabama with her fiancé, Chad Douglas Fairchild (Martin Hewitt). Upon arrival, she is warmly welcomed by her parents, Senator Delongpre (Don Galloway) and Mrs. Delongpre (Millie Perkins), along with her younger sisters, Samantha (Milla Jovovich) and Jody (Nicole Rosselle). As April settles in to plan her wedding, she and Chad take her sisters to a traveling carnival, where they encounter Perry (Richard Tyson), a flirtatious ride operator. April initially brushes off his advances.
In a twist of fate, after a sleepless night filled with thoughts of Perry, April finds herself drawn back to the carnival. There, she discovers Perry playing fetch with his dog, Tom. Although she tries to maintain her distance, Perry's charm proves irresistible, leading to a more intimate connection between them later that night when they share a passionate encounter, causing April to instantly regret her infidelity upon hearing Chad's voicemail the next day.
During a visit to her grandmother, Belle (Louise Fletcher), April expresses her uncertainty about her identity and future. Belle insists that Chad is the right choice for her and, concerned for her granddaughter's safety, calls upon Sheriff Earl Hawkins (Burl Ives) to keep an eye on April.
As the plot unfolds, tensions rise when April learns about Perry's drunken escapades with another woman, Patti Jean (Kristy McNichol). Despite her anger towards Perry, their volatility turns into desperation when a series of unfortunate events at the carnival culminate in Perry getting fired and losing his beloved dog, Tom. The aftermath drives him to seek solace with April and Patti Jean in a bar, where a seductive dance leads to deeper interactions.
Intensifying their romantic relationship, Perry and April check into a motel where they share a night filled with passion, although it is marred by the reality that the carnival scene disappears the next morning. This further complicates matters when Sheriff Hawkins intervenes in Perry's life, enforcing a harsh warning.
As April's wedding day approaches, she is startled to find Perry setting up tents for her reception. Meanwhile, Belle, having recognized Perry from Sheriff Hawkins' description, tries to protect her granddaughter by concocting a story to send him away. Perry, however, remains in town, igniting April's internal struggle between her love for him and her commitment to marrying Chad.
When Perry writes a message for April, suggesting a romantic rendezvous, their passion reignites against the backdrop of wedding plans. As she contemplates a future with Chad, a shocking encounter leads to another intimate moment between Perry and April, despite her wedding ring still on her finger. This culminates in April's decision to marry Chad, but not without the haunting presence of her affair with Perry looming over her once more.
Ultimately, Perry finds solace in a new town but unexpectedly discovers April in his motel shower, leading to a continuation of their secret escapade, forever intertwining their lives despite their surface-level choices. The film weaves a narrative filled with desire, betrayal, and the complexity of love, portrayed by a talented ensemble cast navigating the trials of adolescence and adulthood.
