Jean is a music producer from Chicago. Her friend Alice, whom she's known since their time together in a commune in the 1970s, recently got dumped by her girlfriend Roxanne in Sorrento, Italy. Since then, Jean has helped Alice through the heartbreak, although her own experience with love is limited, since the only serious romantic relationship she's had is with a married man named Tom whom she's seen off and on for twenty years. Alice seeks guidance from many places. She consults fortune cookies and an astrologist, but nothing seems to help. Then, Alice tells Jean that she's been the recipient of some mystery phone calls. The person on the other line always hangs up after Alice answers with "hello." Shortly after this, Jean sees Roxanne from a distance with a girl she doesn't recognize. Tom recommends that Jean wait to tell Alice, who probably cannot handle bad news right now. Alice doesn't call Jean for several days, so Jean goes over to Alice's apartment to check on her. There, the two friends talk, get drunk, cry, and then make love. A few days later, Alice calls Jean to tell her that Roxanne wants to get back together. Jean suspects that Roxanne was dumped by the other girl. Regardless, Alice also wants to get back together with Roxanne. Alice and Jean talk about plans for the three of them to get together for lunch, so that Roxanne and Jean can get to know each other.