After suffering a heart attack, Atticus Smith, a famous, hard-drinking actor, is forced to drive across country to make it in time for his daughter's wedding. His only hope of making the wedding lies with his estranged son, Adam, who wants nothing to do with him. As the two set out on their adventure, they become closer and realize they are more alike than they thought.

Based on Peter Turner's memoir, tells the story of the actor's passionate relationship with aging Gloria Grahame, who finds support in her younger lover when she is diagnosed with breast cancer.