Overview
See production notesIn 1977, cynical Harry Burns and optimistic Sally Albright graduate from the University of Chicago. Sally gives Harry a ride to New York City because he is dating her friend, Amanda. During the journey, they debate their differing views on life and relationships. Sally rejects Harry's claim that men and women cannot be friends because the man will always want to have sex with the woman. At a diner, Harry tells Sally she is very attractive, prompting her to accuse him of making a pass. They part ways in New York at the Washington Square Arch, never intending to see each other again. Five years later, in 1982, Harry and Sally encounter each other at an airport. Harry can not immediately place her, while Sally remembers him unfavorably. Sally has recently begun dating Harry's acquaintance Joe, while Harry reveals that he is engaged to Helen, which Sally considers uncharacteristically optimistic of him. Harry suggests that he and Sally become friends, but cannot disprove his earlier argument about the impossibility of male-female friendships, and Sally walks away. By 1987, Helen has left Harry for another man, leaving him depressed, while Sally and Joe have broken up. Harry and Sally later run into each other and discuss their failed relationships. Sally explains that she and Joe never married because he believed relationships deteriorated after marriage. She insists that she is unaffected by their separation. Harry and Sally admit they disliked each other when they first met but agree to become friends, gradually developing a close, honest platonic relationship. Both eventually begin dating other people again, without success. At a New Year's Eve party, Harry and Sally realize they are becoming attracted to each other but do not acknowledge it. They arrange a double date with their respective best friends, Marie and Jess, only for Marie and Jess to fall for each other immediately and soon move in together. While shopping for a gift for them, Harry and Sally run into Helen and her partner, which disturbs Harry. Later, seeing Marie and Jess argue over decorations prompts Harry to break down and bitterly warn them that even happy relationships can end badly. Sally admonishes him, and they briefly argue before reconciling. Some time later, both begin dating other people, though their feelings for each other remain. One night, Sally tearfully calls Harry after learning that Joe is getting married and wonders why he never wanted to marry her. Harry goes to comfort her, and they end up having sex. Sally is initially pleased about the encounter, but Harry, who habitually leaves women soon after sex, becomes uncomfortable and leaves early the next morning, embarrassing her. They later describe the encounter as a mistake, but Sally is visibly hurt by Harry's reaction, and their friendship becomes strained. Three weeks later, at Marie and Jess's wedding reception, they argue when Sally insists the night meant something and resents Harry's attempts to dismiss it. By Christmas 1988, despite Harry's efforts to apologize, Sally tells him she can no longer continue their relationship or be his "consolation prize". On New Year's Eve, Sally attends a party but remains unhappy. Harry wanders the streets alone, returns to the Washington Square Arch, and reflects on his relationship with Sally. Harry runs to the party and catches her as she is about to leave. He declares his love, but Sally initially refuses to forgive him, believing he is just lonely. Harry lists the things he loves about her and says that, now that he understands his feelings, he wants their life together to begin as soon as possible. Three months later, Harry and Sally are married.
Plot from When Harry Met Sally...CC BY-SA 4.0
- Countries
- United States
- Original language
- English
Cast
See all credits
Gallery
Quotes
See all quotesSally: Amanda mentioned you had a dark side. Harry: That's what drew her to me. Sally: Your dark side? Harry: Sure. Why? Don't you have a dark side? I know, you're probably one of those cheerful people who dot their "i's" with little hearts. Sally: I have just as much of a dark side as the next person. Harry: When I buy a new book, I always read the last page first. That way, in case I die before I finish, I know how it ends. That, my friend, is a dark side. Sally: That doesn't mean you're deep or anything. I mean, yes, basically I'm a happy person... Harry: So am I. Sally: ...and I don't see that there's anything wrong with that. Harry: Of course not. You're too busy being happy. Do you ever think about death? Sally: Yes. Harry: Sure you do. A fleeting thought that drifts in and out of the transom of your mind. I spend hours, I spend days... Sally: And you think this makes you a better person? Harry: Look, when the shit comes down, I'm gonna be prepared and you're not, that's all I'm
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Harry: With whom did you have this great sex? Sally: I'm not going to tell you that. Harry: Fine, don't tell me. Sally: Shel Gordon. Harry: Shel? Sheldon? No, no, you did not have great sex with Sheldon. Sally: I did too. Harry: No you didn't. A Sheldon can do your income taxes, if you need a root canal, Sheldon's your man... but humpin' and pumpin' is not Sheldon's strong suit. It's the name. 'Do it to me Sheldon, you're an animal Sheldon, ride me big Shel-don.' Doesn't work.
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Harry: You realize, of course, that we can never be friends. Sally: Why not? Harry: What I'm saying is — and this is not a come-on in any way, shape or form — is that men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in the way. Sally: That's not true. I have a number of men friends and there is no sex involved. Harry: No you don't. Sally: Yes I do. Harry: No you don't. Sally: Yes I do. Harry: You only think you do. Sally: You say I'm having sex with these men without my knowledge? Harry: No, what I'm saying is they all want to have sex with you. Sally: They do not. Harry: Do too. Sally: They do not. Harry: Do too. Sally: How do you know? Harry: Because no man can be friends with a woman that he finds attractive. He always wants to have sex with her. Sally: So you're saying that a man can be friends with a woman he finds unattractive? Harry: No, you pretty much want to nail 'em too. Sally: What if they don't want to have sex with you? Harry: Doesn't matter because the sex
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Harry: You take someone to the airport, it's clearly the beginning of the relationship. That's why I have never taken anyone to the airport at the beginning of a relationship. Sally: Why? Harry: Because eventually things move on and you don't take someone to the airport and I never wanted anyone to say to me "How come you never take me to the airport any more?" Sally: It's amazing. You look like a normal person, but actually you are the angel of death.
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Harry: I'm getting married. Sally: You are? Who is she? Harry: Her nam is Helen Hilson. She's a lawyer. She's keeping her name. Sally: Well, that's just so optimistic of you, Harry. Harry: You'd be surprised by what falling madly in love will do to you. Plus, you know you just get to a certain point where you get tired of the whole thing. Sally: What "whole thing"? Harry: The whole life-of-a-single-guy thing. You meet someone, you have the safe lunch, you decide you like each other enough to move on to dinner. You go dancing, you do the white-man's over-bite, go back to her place, you have sex and the minute you're finished you know what goes through your mind? How long do I have to lie here and hold her before I can get up and go home. Is thirty seconds enough? Sally: That's what you're thinking? Is that true? Harry: Sure! All men think that. How long do you want to be held afterwards? All night, right? See there's your problem, somewhere between thirty seconds and all night is your p
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Harry: Would you like to have dinner? ...Just friends. Sally: I thought you didn't believe men and women could be friends. Harry: When did I say that? Sally: On the ride to New York. Harry: No, no, no, no, I never said that... Yes, that's right, they can't be friends...unless both of them are involved with other people. Then they can. This is an amendment to the earlier rule. If the two people are in relationships, the pressure of possible involvement is lifted. That doesn't work either. Because what happens then is the person you're involved with can't understand why you need to be friends with the person you're just friends with, like it means something is missing from the relationship and wanted to go outside to get it. Then when you say, 'No, no, no, no, it's not true, nothing is missing from the relationship,' the person you're involved with then accuses you of being secretly attracted to the person you're just friends with, which you probably are - I mean, come on, who the hell a
When Harry Met Sally..., CC BY-SA 4.0
Ratings
More like this
Where to watch
Where to watch is coming soon
Discuss
Discussion is coming soon