Mary Horton (Piper Laurie) is an attractive, middle aged woman, lonely and alone. She hires Tim Melville (Mel Gibson), a young, mildly retarded man to do yard work for her one Saturday, and the Saturdays turn into weekends, as their friendship develops. Tim becomes Mary's gardener. When Tim's mother dies, they become even closer, and the relationship develops into a romantic one. The question of marriage arises, and both Mary and Tim realize that their relationship has become quite serious. Neighbors talk, because the age difference in this May - December romance is many years. Tim's older sister Dawn (Deborah Kennedy) resents the relationship, but his father Ron (Alwyn Kurts) sees a certain wisdom in it, and blesses it. He feels that Mary is being relieved of her loneliness, and Tim has someone who will not only look after him, but love him in both a motherly and romantic manner, which is just what they both need. The story ends happily, with all members of the family finally at peace with this unusual love between two unlikely people.