Maggie Rice (Meg Ryan) is an agnostic heart surgeon who does not believe in angels or destiny, she thinks that if a patient dies it is because she did not do her job. Seth (Nicholas Cage) is an angel watching over Los Angeles who knows differently: when a patient dies, it is simply because it was their time to go. As part of his job, Seth frequently visits the hospital where Maggie works to escort patients to Heaven. There he sees and falls in love with Maggie. Knowing that he may give up his life as an angel to become human, he does it so he can be with Maggie.