Showbiz veterans from the World War 2 era, Eddie Sparks (James Caan) and Dixie Leonard (Bette Midler) are to be given an award at a televised ceremony. Before the show, Dixie begins to reminisce about her career and long partnership with Eddie which began in 1942 at a USO Christmas show in London. Eddie took an immediate dislike to her, but their on-stage repartie was a hit with the audience and thus began a long and successful career. This took them through the War, the McCarthy era and up to the Vietnam War, but all along their off-stage relationship never changed - Dixie even stopped talking to Eddie at one point. So this reunion for the award ceremony is not something either of them are looking forward to.