Based on author Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey's novel about a turn-of-the-century woman (Sally Field) who refuses to be ruled by society. After marrying her childhood sweetheart, Bess Alcott faces many personal triumphs and losses.

Following Rob's death, Bess (Sally Field) moves into a modest Dallas house and works to save his company from bankruptcy; the company is saved by a loan from Arthur Fineman (Ron Silver), who proposes to Bess.

Frustrated with her marriage, Bess (Sally Field) accompanies her children on a Queen Mary cruise, where she experiences romance with an older man; after her father's death, Bess and Sam (Jack Thompson) reconcile.