Only You
Two childhood paranormal incidents have convinced schoolteacher Faith Corvatch that her true love is a guy named "Damon Bradley," but she has yet to meet him. Preparing to marry podiatrist Dwayne in 10 days, Faith receives a phone call from Dwayne's old classmate named Damon Bradley who is on his way to Venice. Faith tries to catch him at the airport but just misses him so she impulsively decides to fly to Venice hoping to finally encounter the man of her dreams; accompanying her on the trip is her sister-in-law and childhood best friend, Kate, who has just left her husband, Faith's brother Larry.
The film earned $20.1M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Only You (1994) showcases precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Norman Jewison's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Faith Corvatch
Peter Wright
Kate Corvatch
Giovanni
Dwayne
Larry
The Real Damon Bradley
Main Cast & Characters
Faith Corvatch
Played by Marisa Tomei
A Pittsburgh schoolteacher who has believed since childhood that she is destined to marry a man named Damon Bradley, leading her to abandon her wedding and chase fate across Italy.
Peter Wright
Played by Robert Downey Jr.
A charming American shoe salesman in Italy who pretends to be Damon Bradley after meeting Faith, falling genuinely in love with her while maintaining the deception.
Kate Corvatch
Played by Bonnie Hunt
Faith's adventurous and supportive sister-in-law who accompanies her on the spontaneous trip to Italy and finds her own unexpected romance.
Giovanni
Played by Joaquim de Almeida
A romantic Italian man who pursues Kate during their Italian adventure, providing comic relief and a parallel love story.
Dwayne
Played by Fisher Stevens
Faith's fiance whom she leaves at the altar when she hears Damon Bradley's name, representing the safe but passionless choice.
Larry
Played by John Benjamin Hickey
Kate's husband and Faith's brother, who remains back home during the Italian adventure.
The Real Damon Bradley
Played by Billy Zane
The actual Damon Bradley whom Faith has been searching for, whose appearance creates the final complication of the story.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Faith at age 11 has her fortune told at a sleepover, learning she will marry a man named "Damon Bradley." This childhood moment establishes her lifelong belief in destiny and fated love.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Faith receives a phone call for Dwayne from a man named Damon Bradley, confirming the exact name from her childhood prophecy exists. This disrupts her imminent wedding and reignites her belief in destiny.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Faith makes the active choice to abandon her wedding and fly to Venice with Kate to find Damon Bradley. She boards the plane, leaving her safe, predictable life behind for the unknown., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False defeat: Peter's lie is exposed when Faith discovers he's not the real Damon Bradley. She feels betrayed and foolish. The magical romance shatters, and she realizes she's been chasing an illusion while falling for a liar., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Faith's dream dies: the real Damon Bradley is not her soulmate and is engaged to someone else. Her entire belief system—the prophecy that guided her life—crumbles. She realizes she's lost both her destiny and the real love (Peter) she pushed away., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 82% of the runtime. Faith realizes she loves Peter for who he is, not because of prophecy or destiny. She chooses to pursue him actively, synthesizing the lesson that true love requires choice and courage, not just fate. She decides to find him before it's too late., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Only You's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Only You against these established plot points, we can identify how Norman Jewison utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Only You within the romance genre.
Norman Jewison's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Norman Jewison films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Only You represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Norman Jewison filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and The Evening Star. For more Norman Jewison analyses, see A Soldier's Story, ...And Justice for All and F.I.S.T..
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Faith at age 11 has her fortune told at a sleepover, learning she will marry a man named "Damon Bradley." This childhood moment establishes her lifelong belief in destiny and fated love.
Theme
Faith's friend Kate questions whether she's marrying Dwayne for the right reasons, suggesting "You can't spend your whole life waiting for destiny." The theme: destiny vs. choice in love.
Worldbuilding
Adult Faith is introduced as a Pittsburgh teacher about to marry Dwayne, a practical podiatrist. We see her comfortable but passionless relationship, her best friend Kate's skepticism, and Faith's lingering belief in the Damon Bradley prophecy.
Disruption
Faith receives a phone call for Dwayne from a man named Damon Bradley, confirming the exact name from her childhood prophecy exists. This disrupts her imminent wedding and reignites her belief in destiny.
Resistance
Faith debates whether to pursue this sign from fate. She learns Damon Bradley is traveling to Venice, Italy. Kate tries to talk sense into her, but Faith becomes increasingly convinced she must follow her destiny. She makes wedding preparations while secretly planning to find Damon.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Faith makes the active choice to abandon her wedding and fly to Venice with Kate to find Damon Bradley. She boards the plane, leaving her safe, predictable life behind for the unknown.
Mirror World
Faith meets Peter Wright, a charming American shoe salesman in Italy. He claims to be Damon Bradley at their first meeting. Peter represents the opposite of Faith's destiny-driven approach: spontaneity, living in the moment, and authentic connection over fate.
Premise
The romantic adventure through Italy begins. Faith chases "Damon Bradley" (actually Peter) through Venice and Rome. Peter continues the charade while falling for Faith. They share magical moments: gondola rides, Roman fountains, starlit conversations. Faith experiences the romance and passion missing from her life.
Midpoint
False defeat: Peter's lie is exposed when Faith discovers he's not the real Damon Bradley. She feels betrayed and foolish. The magical romance shatters, and she realizes she's been chasing an illusion while falling for a liar.
Opposition
Faith doubles down on finding the real Damon Bradley, rejecting Peter despite their connection. She tracks Damon to Positano and meets him, discovering he's engaged. Peter follows, trying to win her back. Faith must confront that her destiny may not be what she imagined. Peter's genuine love opposes her stubborn belief in fate.
Collapse
Faith's dream dies: the real Damon Bradley is not her soulmate and is engaged to someone else. Her entire belief system—the prophecy that guided her life—crumbles. She realizes she's lost both her destiny and the real love (Peter) she pushed away.
Crisis
Faith processes her loss and transformation. She reflects on her journey and recognizes she must choose love actively rather than wait for destiny to deliver it. Kate helps her see that Peter was the real thing all along.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Faith realizes she loves Peter for who he is, not because of prophecy or destiny. She chooses to pursue him actively, synthesizing the lesson that true love requires choice and courage, not just fate. She decides to find him before it's too late.
Synthesis
Faith races to find Peter before he leaves Italy. She searches for him, finally tracking him down. She confesses her true feelings and chooses him freely. Peter reveals his real feelings and they commit to each other based on authentic love, not destiny.
Transformation
Faith and Peter together in Italy, having chosen each other. Unlike the opening image of young Faith passively waiting for destiny, she's now actively creating her own fate. The prophecy is released; authentic love replaces magical thinking.