Ria is a seemingly happily married mother of two teenage sons. Her husband is the lugubrious dentist Ben. His hobby is collecting butterflies, although he seems to spend most of his time arguing with their sons: the thoughtful Russell and the ever cynical Adam.
Leonard with whom Ria has been having secret trysts, has gone to New York for six months and she misses him. Meanwhile Ria is faced with the growing realisation that both her sons are establishing their own relationships and will soon leave home, and that her husband seems to have the option of picking up the threads of an old love affair. The future looks decidedly bleak and Leonard's return arouses feelings of happiness, discontent and guilt for Ria as she makes a belated bid for a questionable freedom.