The movie tells the story of Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve), a playwright who becomes obsessed with a photograph of a woman he sees on a poster for a play. He later learns that the woman is Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), a renowned actress from the early 20th century. Richard becomes convinced that he has traveled back in time and meets Elise, and they begin a romantic affair. As their relationship deepens, Richard must navigate the challenges of being a man out of time, while Elise must confront the constraints of her life as a performer.