 A woman (Sally Field) travels to coastal Maine after her divorce to start a job as housekeeper for a bitter, wealthy woman (Judy Davis). They do not hit if off, but no one will work for the rich woman, and Field has no skills and needs the job. They each get involved in the other s life and eventually learn to respect and even like one another. This is the story of the journey of two middle-aged women and how they learn to accept what life has to offer.