A Second Chance

Recent widower, Dan, and divorcee, Jenna, meet mid-life and mid-crisis. Their painful pasts cause them both to feel undeserving of happiness. They develop an instant rapport while attending a dinner party, but Dan's grief precludes any follow-through. After running into each other on a subway a month later, Jenna decides to invite Dan out on a "platonic date" to the Museum of Modern Art, where they experience a silent, but unexpectedly intense connection. After two months of similarly enjoyable outings, Dan confesses that he feels guilty of betraying his late wife, Susan, and that he has nothing left to offer Jenna but "damaged goods." Over the next month their relationship turns to romance, but a seed of doubt is planted by an awkward encounter with two old friends of Dan, who believe it is far too soon for Dan to begin a new relationship. One night at his home two months later, Jenna finds herself haunted not only by the constant reminders of his past but also by her realization that she may always be forced to compete with the now-idealized Susan. Dan proposes to build a home of their dreams, but Jenna realizes that Dan's solution will not rid her of her deep-seated apprehensions about committing to him and living with his past. At their "anniversary" picnic that night, Jenna insists that they part ways. But after a cathartic moment in which Jenna tries to reconcile herself with a photograph of Susan, Dan pledges to protect Jenna from her fears of both present and past and urges her to join him in accepting a second chance at life and happiness.