露西及凯文是一对纯友谊的男女朋友,而彼此正苦于无伴侣。当沮丧的凯文正抱怨他的前任女友如何在他生日当天甩掉他的时候,露西正使出浑身解数去诱惑英俊的酒保。距离几张桌子之遥,坐着艾瑞克及布莉吉特,艾瑞克被指责为一个差劲的男朋友而遭布莉吉特抛弃。而布莉吉特与她的好友凯特琳在接下来的夜晚又在彼此争夺那英俊的酒保。总之,就是没人想在除夕夜回家。蒙妮卡一个人在家里痴痴的等着,因为没有人在她的舞会中。
Plot Summary:New Year's Eve, 1981, the Lower East Side. Monica's having a party, but as late as 9, no one's there. She stews (and drinks). Folks are on their way, all looking for love, sex, or both. En route, paths cross, gambits misfire: a performance artist, her boyfriend until today and his long-time pal Lucy, two Long Island high-school girls, two punk rockers, a bartender, a Scottish painter who's lousy in bed, a pretty face named Jack who runs when women say they love him, his cute but clumsy date Cindy, two trendy vamps, a loquacious cabby, the man-crazed Hillary, and Elvis Costello. Nearly everybody smokes, and nearly everybody scores. And all get who and what they deserve.