Composer Porter (John Markovich John Malkovich) and writer's wife Jeter (Deborah Wenger Debra Winger) travel to the Sahara of North Africa with their friend Reina (Campbell Scott Campbell Scott) after World War II. In the mysterious and unpredictable desert, the marriage crisis between Porter and Jeter seems to have been alleviated strangely-Porter lingers with local prostitutes, while Kit has sex with Leonard. In the breakup of the relationship between husband and wife, Porter and Jeter re-realized the importance of each other to them. At this time, however, Potter was unfortunately infected with cholera, and Kitt took him back and forth in the Sahara. The harsh desert swallowed up hope, and Potter finally left Jeter. In his grief, Jeter followed a team of camels and continued to wander in the desert, becoming the women of the team, drifting away in the endless desert.