Rita, a modern woman, forges an acting career, while her partner Karl writes scripts. She meets many people - her Uncle Fred, Bertha, Peter, Edwina - and moves with Karl from Boston to Switzerland for his work. Her childhood imagination springs to life when the circus comes to town. As Uncle Fred falls for Yuki, Rita connects with her, making a pen-pal. Relationships interweave between the cast, underscoring the busy modern world where paths constantly cross. Traveling from Boston to Munich stirs Rita's longing for the mother she never met, and motivates her search. Karl eventually wins an Academy Award, but accepts it without attending, in his signature style. Through it all, Rita and Karl's bond endures, a rarity in these turbulent times.