Injured during WWII's North African Campaign, American pilot David Bradford (Tom Hanks) is recuperating in Jerusalem when he meets and falls in love with Sarah Perrara (Cristina Marsillach), a young Jewish bank clerk. Her family, however, vehemently opposes their romance and refuses to allow Sarah to marry outside their faith. Determined to put an end to the affair, the Perraras coerce Sarah into agreeing to wed an old boyfriend, a man she doesn't love. Called back into service, David leaves for the front, knowing that he must soon return to Jerusalem if he's to rescue the woman of his dreams.