Martha Horgan is mentally slow. She lives with her aunt Frances. She is known for NEVER lying. This causes her to get fired from her job; she tells on 1 of the other store employees, Getso, for taking 20 dollars out of the cash register. The owner thinks MARTHA did it, her being mentally slow and all. Back at the house, Mackey, who does odd jobs hears that Frances needs a worker to fix her porch. He ends up working there, only to become intimately involved with Martha. He is attracted to her naivete.

Glenn Close was the original casting decision to play Debra Winger's aunt, while Jeff Bridges and Jason Patric were both considered for the male lead.