A married Seattle couple struggle in their relationship as they approach the millennium, each looking for new directions in their life. He dreams of shedding all material worth and going on a spiritual awakening. She wants a new relationship with an old lover who wrote her a love note years ago. When a male friend commits suicide, he leaves all of his belongings to his friends. The two choose a piano from his possessions, which comes to represent the couple's relationship as he pushes the piano 50 blocks across the city to their home.
A woman attempts to escape her domestic problems by fleeing to New York in search of her father. She finds him, and also new problems, some friendship, a romance, and an unexpected career as pro-boxer, to make ends meet.
Ellen works in a Los Angeles bookstore called Buy the Book and hangs around with her friends discussing lovers, work and family.
Dr. Michaela Quinn journeys to Colorado Springs to be the town's physician after her father's death in 1868.