Dr. Francis Fleischer, renowned cardiologist and Director of the Obesity Clinic at Mass General in Boston, is not dealing well with the loss of her lover. Her temper flares without warning and colleagues have had enough of her outbursts. The hospital director forces her out on a month's leave with the warning to "get her act together." On that "healing" cruise, she meets a morbidly obese man who just happens to be a member of Italy's parliament. He is so utterly charming, Franny quickly falls under his spell. But then Vincenzo D'Bella suffers a life threatening heart attack. Franny is able to save him and leaves the ship with him as he is airlifted to Rome for treatment. As their relationship grows, Franny discovers the numerous roadblocks in her path to find happiness.