- The story follows a married couple, apart for a night while the husband takes a business trip with a colleague to whom he's attracted. While he's resisting temptation, his wife encounters her past love.
- Joanna accuses her husband, Michael, of being attracted to his co-worker. Wanting to make-up before he goes on a business trip, she assumes she over-reacted. But when they are both away from each other for one night, Michael ends up testing his loyalty to Joanna and his attraction to Laura. And Joanna tests her honesty to Michael when her ex-boyfriend Alex suddenly appears in New York for the day.—napierslogs
- Joanna (Keira Knightley) is a writer who is married to Michael (Sam Worthington), a commercial real estate agent. They live in New York. The film begins with Joanna and Michael attending a party with Michael's colleagues Stuart (Scott Adsit) and Truman. Joanna notices Michael spending most of his time chatting with the beautiful Laura (Eva Mendes), one of his colleagues, whom he has never mentioned to her before. Joanna learns from Andy that Michael has been travelling extensively with Laura on account of work. Joanna suspects him of having an affair and confronts him when they return home. Joanna insists that Michael did not mention Laura deliberately. Michael says that he has done nothing and so there is nothing lie about or hide. They argue but reconcile later in the night. Joanna feels that Michael is going out of his way to not admit that he finds Laura attractive. Joanna feels that she and Michael got married too soon.
Michael leaves for Philadelphia the next morning with associates Laura and Andy (Daniel Eric Gold) for a business trip. Joanna goes out for coffee and bumps into Alex (Guillaume Canet), an old love. Joanna is surprised to run into Alex, but then she goes back home to continue working on her writing. Joanna gets a call from Alex and they meet later that day for a drink, eventually ending up having dinner with Sandra (Stephanie Romanov) and Truman (Griffin Dunne), friends of Alex. Alex is also a writer and the last time he met Joanna was 2 years ago. Joanna married Michael about 3 years ago. Joanna met Alex four years ago in Paris while she was working on a story. She has never told Michael about Alex. Joanna tells Truman that one you talk about such things, you cannot unlearn it, and hence she never told Michael about Alex. Truman indicates that after Joanna, Alex was with a woman named Helen.
Joanna and Alex return to friend Andy's apartment (as Andy had asked Joanna to feed and walk his dog in his absence), where they discuss their previous romance. It is revealed that they were together during the period Joanna and Michael briefly broke off their relationship. Alex was writing his book at the time and was not thinking about Joanna. Joanna feels that she spent 2 months with Alex, and yet that meant nothing to him. Alex believes that he was what Joanna needed to be sure of Michael and to go back to him. Joanna admits that she misses Alex whenever things are not going well in her life.
Joanna then goes out to walk Andy's dog Lucy; Alex forgets the keys when he comes down to greet her and they are locked outside. They then go to a party where Sandra and Truman are at, with the dog. There, they grow even closer and passionately kiss in the elevator. They return to Alex's hotel room after the party. Joanna refuses to have sex with Alex. Instead, they spend the night together embracing in bed.
Joanna and Alex's night together are interspersed with scenes of Michael and Laura on their business trip. After dinner with their client, Laura invites Michael out for more drinks, which he accepts. Michael calls Joanna, and she says that she is out for a bite but doesn't tell Michael about running into Alex or having dinner with him and his friends. Michael and Laura's conversations at the hotel bar reveal that Michael has never cheated on his wife. Michael tells Laura that he would regret is more if he cheated on Joanna, than not acting on his impulses. Laura makes it clear that she is attracted to Michael and kisses him on the lips. They then proceed to the hotel pool, where they swim in their underwear. They continue to talk about infidelity, which further tempts Michael. Laura says that had she been with someone she would still be attracted to Michael. They return to her room and have sex.
The next morning, Michael tries to speak to Laura about what had happened but is unable to. He also discovers a note written by Joanna slipped into his clothes where she confirmed her confidence in his honesty. Fraught with guilt, he leaves Philadelphia early, leaving Laura and Andy alone for the presentation to their clients. Joanna and Alex have a passionate farewell. Alex leaves New York with a broken heart.
Michael comes home early to find Joanna in tears. They make plans for the day, trying to resume their normal lives. They embrace, and Michael tells Joanna he loves her, and notices Joanna's shoes left over there that were worn the night before. Joanna is puzzled by this sudden show of affection coupled with Michael's early return. Michael then notices that Joanna is wearing her best underwear, which she had not removed after last night. As Joanna prepares to speak, the film cuts to black.
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