<p> 作家梅尔文（杰克•尼科尔森 饰）是一个脾气古怪的强迫症老头，没有家庭也没有朋友，整天关在屋里写他的第六十二部小说，生活如时钟般精准，受不了一点的打扰。
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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 梅尔文的邻居西蒙（格雷戈•金尼尔 饰）是年轻的同性恋画家，养了一条可爱的小狗，生性活泼，脾气温和，经常受到梅尔文的侮辱。
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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 梅尔文每天只出门一次，到同一家餐厅吃饭，餐厅女招待卡罗尔•康奈莉（海伦•亨特 饰）是唯一愿意而且能够为他服务的人。离了婚的卡罗尔与儿子斯潘塞住在一起，斯潘塞患有严重的哮喘病，这使得许多对卡罗尔有意思的男子知难而退。
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&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 一天，西蒙的住所遭到抢劫，西蒙身受重伤，住院前，将小狗托付给梅尔文照料，梅尔文渐渐喜欢上了这个小家伙，心理也发生了变化，开始关注周边的世界，主动帮助别人，认真审视自己对卡罗尔的好感……</p>
