1951. Hollywood. Songwriter Ernie Case has an Oscar on the shelf, an aspiring actress in his bed, and a screenplay getting the green-light from Studio. Life, it seems, is looking up. Only two hurdles lie ahead: he needs the mysterious Diva as his leading lady and he needs to keep well clear of Senator McCarthy's anti-communist witch hunt. But, as his relationship with Diva deepens, he realises that some things are more important than hit songs sung by Sinatra.