在这部兰闺春怨剧情片中,多克和妻子罗拉的生活陷入了前景惨淡的境地。他因罗拉怀孕儿放弃了在大学进行医学深造的机会，去当一名按摩师。他成天靠酒精来打发日子。而罗拉小产之后丧失了生育能力。她现在变得整天无精打采，不修边幅，并未逝去的青春暗自伤心。她养的小狗希巴走丢了，而她为此一直痛苦不已并急切地渴望希巴能重新回到自己的怀抱。
以为年轻姑娘租住了他们家的空房，面对少女的青春活力，夫妻两人之间产生了感情危机。多克变本加厉地许久，并在一天晚上用刀扎伤了罗拉。在罗拉出院之后，两人都努力开始一种崭新的生活。
For two decades Doc and Lola Delaney avoided coming to terms with what Doc considered a "shot gun" marriage. Lola lost the baby and gives a lot of her affection to Sheba, a dog that disappeared a few months before the film opens. Doc blames Lola for having to drop out of medical school and not becoming a "real" doctor. Until joining AA a year ago, his escape was alcohol. Then college student Marie rents a room in their home. Doc feels passion for the first time in 20 years. But Marie has two suitors her age. Lola -- unaware of Doc's emotions --becomes as interested in Marie's future as if Marie were her daughter.
《Come Back, Little Sheba》：浅谈20世纪美国戏剧发展史。
