Waitress Caroline (Marisa Tomei) is superficially confident and outgoing, but deep down inside feels insecure about relationships and has had a string of failed romances. One night whilst walking home her reclusive busboy colleague Adam (Christian Slater), who is secretly smitten with her, saves her from being attacked. Caroline is secretly intrigued by her shy saviour and tries to break into his solitary world - which is difficult at first but eventually blossoms into romance.