Monica, a 32-year-old woman, vacations in Paris with her husband, Martin, and his elegant mother, Elizabeth. Elizabeth has paid for the trip, which was originally intended to be the forty-year anniversary celebration for her and her husband, but he passed from pancreatic cancer a little over a year ago. Monica spends much of the time alone, while her husband remains in the hotel, and takes the opportunity to reflect on her love life as well as her own mother, whom she views as sloppy—in direct opposition to Elizabeth. Monica and her mother are two small-town women, and her mother has accepted that fate, but Monica wishes to explore life more and moves out of her town, where she then met Martin and initiated their relationship. Monica feels stagnant in Paris, in part because of Martin's static personality. Though Martin's mood is not helped by the fact of his recently deceased father, Monica is well aware that it is not such a stark difference to how he had been before. Constantly, Monica observes how effortlessly elegant Elizabeth is, and at times tries to replicate it, as she understands that she herself is approaching the age that Elizabeth gracefully maneuvers. The trio plan to have drinks in their hotel lounge that night, though Martin considers drinking alone in his room and reading academic papers, which depicts his boring tendencies, but he resolves to join the two later in the night. Prior to his arrival, Monica informs Elizabeth of her plans to leave Martin as soon as she can, and surprises herself with her straightforwardness. Elizabeth is unperturbed, and rather surprised that the couple had lasted so long. She states that she knows her son, and it couldn't be far off. Elizabeth comforts Monica, and laments that it is not the end for either party, but asks her not to tell him for another week, until their trip has ended. Once Martin joins them, they toast to happiness, and carry on with the trip.