Plot
Twenty-seven-year-old St. Louis advertising executive Max Baron (James Spader) has completely shut himself off from the world in the two years since the auto accident death of his wife (Maria Pitillo). On the way to the bachelor party of his friend Neil (Jason Alexander) he picks up 50 burgers from a diner, however he realises that the order is six burgers short and returns to White Palace to complain.
Following a heated exchange with the waitress Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon), he gets his money refunded and returns to the party. He leaves the party drunk and runs into Nora at a bar, he gives her a lift home but crashes his car into her mailbox, he stays the night, and they sleep together.
After visiting his wife's grave on the second anniversary of her death Max returns to the White Palace to see Nora, but misses her. He visits her at home, with the pretext of replacing the mailbox but instead they begin a relationship, with Max becoming more open and relaxed, but reluctant to reveal his relationship to his family and friends. Max attempts to introduce Nora to culture, but she resists, feeling the age difference and their cultural differences put a strain on the relationship.
Nora is angry that Max didn't take her to Neil's wedding, and they argue about why Max won't introduce Nora to his family and friends. Nora's sister Judy (Eileen Brennan) meets Max the following day and explains to him how they were abandoned as children and how she left Nora in care. Judy explains how Nora was devastated when her son died.
While at the supermarket Max runs into Neil's wife, Rachel (Rachel Chagall) who invites him and his "mystery woman" to Thanksgiving. At Max's apartment Nora hears a message on his answering machine inviting them to the Horowitz's for Thanksgiving, and the both resolve to attend.
At the dinner with Neil, Rachel, Mrs Baron (Renee Taylor), and Max's friends and the Horowitz's extended family Nora and Max are made to feel uncomfortable, and following a remark by Neil's father they walk out. After the dinner Nora and Max argue.
Nora quits the White Palace and leaves St Louis. Max finds her house empty and a note explaining to Max why she had to leave. He goes to a brunch and meets Heidi Solomon (Kim Myers), but Max cannot stop thinking about Nora. He travels to New York to see Judy and she tells Max that Nora is working in a restaurant. Max goes to the restaurant and confesses his love to Nora, where he reveals that he has moved to New York to be with her. They re-unite, kissing tenderly while patrons of the restaurant look on, then Max playfully clears the table of its contents and lays a laughing Nora down on it climbing on top of her and passionately kisses her neck and lips while the whole restaurant cheers and applauds.
Read more about this topic: White Palace (film)
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