Oscar Grubman is surrounded by a slew of stunning, smart women. He is sensitive and caring, speaks French well, is a Voltaire fanatic, and believes that the characteristic that communicates the most about a woman is her hands. He is also a good listener. As Oscar is riding the train home from Chauncey Academy for the Thanksgiving weekend, he confides in his best friend that he has big intentions for the weekend: he intends to win the heart of his true love! Oscar's true love is his stepmother Eve, and this presents a significant difficulty for him. Unlike his work-obsessed father, Oscar is convinced that he would be a better partner for Eve in the long run. He is depressed as a result of his failure to win Eve's heart. One of the most unexpected detours on Oscar's journey to find his real love comes from Eve's best friend Diane, who, one night while wearing Eve's borrowed perfumed scarf, provides him with momentary comfort in an unorthodox tryst. Oscar fills a hole in Diane's life that she had previously felt. Diane serves as a minor diversion for Oscar, whose relentless pursuit of Eve leads to an unexpected conclusion to the story.