After failing to make it in the movies, drifter Chance Wayne decides to leave to return to his hometown. Fading film star Alexandra Del Lago is in her third marriage, this time to a prince, and is now called "Princess". Horrified by her own closeups in her latest film, she flees with Chance, using alcohol and drugs to anesthetize the pain of growing older. Back in his hometown, Chance seeks to resume his love affair with Heavenly Finley, the daughter of the local political boss.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1989/10/01/sweet-bird-of-youth/9534123f-0ab6-4b5b-bccc-aa25538f6897</ref><ref name="auto"></ref>