Set in early 1960s Hong Kong, the film centers on Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung), a journalist/office worker, and Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), who move into adjacent apartments on the same day. Both are married; their spouses are often absent. They slowly discover that their respective partners are having an affair with each other. Rather than confronting the cheating spouses directly, Chow and Su meet to rehearse confrontations they will never perform, developing intimacy through shared pain, conversation, and a strict emotional code: they will not become like their spouses.