Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson (at the time married to each other) play Lily and Ben Reed, a young couple torn apart by a family tragedy.

While Willard is bored and out and about looking for something to do, he comes across a 9 year old female tomboy named Billie Pike (Thora Birch).

But stemming from the often endearing time that they both have been spending with Willard, they slowly begin to mend their relationship.

Willard starts to come terms with his own fears…including the shattering truth that his father was never on sea duty, but had in fact left his mother for another woman.

As for Billie, when she tries to make contact with a skating ring teacher whom she believes is her father, he flat out rejects her.