The year is 1980. Hilary is a middle-aged woman who lives in a seaside town in the south of England and works as a shift supervisor at the Empire cinema, which is going through bad times. Hilary loves her job but never watches movies. Her loneliness is slightly diluted by a joyless sexual relationship with the married director of the movie theater. When a young black man, Stephen, takes a job at the Empire, he and Hilary begin an affair.