In the wee hours of a wintry night, while on patrol, Ed Gallagher, a policeman, comes upon a car, idling on a deserted Cape Cod beach; inside, slumped over the steering wheel, is Emma Sanders, a young woman. Because the tailpipe is blocked and he fears she is trying to kill herself, he shatters the window, reaches inside, and turns off the ignition. As he is about to call for an ambulance, she wakes up and vehemently denies attempting suicide. An argument ensues and finally, in exasperation, he throws up his hands and lets her go.In his favorite restaurant, Ed crosses paths with her again. And this time, too, sparks fly. To his surprise, like him, she, too, becomes a frequent patron and together they indulge in games of one-upmanship.To his astonishment she declares a truce, tells him she is seeing a therapist, and invites him to her next session. There she confesses that because of her shame over an affair with a married congressman, she really was trying to kill herself that night in the parking lot. Too, she apologizes to Ed for taking all her anger out on him.Soon their relationship changes for the better: smiles replace frowns; civility, anger; and reason, emotion. Just as love is blooming and their cup is running over with happiness, a gunman injures Ed and the congressman shows up at Emma's home. Can true love conquer all? That is the question.