Celebrating the success of his first play, Richard Collier (Christopher
Reeve) is approached by an elderly woman who presses an antique pocket
watch into his hand and whispers, "Come back to me." A few years later,
during a period of writer's block, he sees a photograph in a hotel
museum, and learns that this elderly woman was once a talented and
lovely actress. Drawn mysteriously to the expression on the woman's
face in the photograph, he turns to a former professor for insights on
time travel.

For
he must find her, even if he has to go back to 1912 to do so.
Self-hypnosis, and removing reminders of the modern present are the
keys, and Collier eventually awakens the day before Elise McKenna's
(Jane Seymore) August 1912 performance at the Grand Hotel.

McKenna's
manager, William Robinson (Christopher Plummer) is an obstacle. There
are hints that he is clairvoyant, and he fears the man who will change
McKenna's life. His attempts to separate the couple, however, backfire,
causing his protogee to resent him. Elise and Richard press on, and are
eventually able to declare their love for each other.

A tiny
forgotten object from 1980 pulls Richard away from his beloved, and all
his attempts to re-hypnotise himself and return to 1912 fail. His grief
overwhelms him, and he dies. On the "other side," the young Elise is
waiting to welcome him, and the lovers are reunited.