Gabe, an adventurous 10-year-old boy lives in
Manhattan with his parents who are on the verge of divorcing. Gabe spends most of his free time exploring the city on his scooter. His daily exploits are noticed and encouraged by the friendly
concierge at his building. Gabe runs across Rosemary, an 11-year-old classmate whom he's known since kindergarten, in a karate class. After being partnered with her for sparring, he suddenly notices her as a girl, not another face in school (even if she is the "third prettiest girl at school" to him). Gabe is elated when they hang out together and he is completely enamored with not only her, but her daily life. Rosemary lives with her loving
upper-class parents on the edge of
Central Park. Gabe takes Rosemary on a tour through
Central Park and another day they venture across the city to
Septuaguesimo Uno, Manhattan's smallest park while finding an apartment for rent (for Gabe's father who inevitably will be moving out). Gabe's nervous parents are worried. Rosemary's parents take them to hear a
jazz pianist and singer at
The Carlyle, where Rosemary and Gabe finally hold hands. After the show, Rosemary's parents tell them to say good night and her parents go to buy milk. After they walk off, Gabe and Rosemary talk; he interrupts her by kissing her. Rosemary's family's life is in contrast to Gabe's; his parents have declared an awkward truce while waiting for their divorce to be official. As their relationship progresses, Gabe begins to question what is happening to him and why he is falling in love with Rosemary. Complicating matters, Rosemary is going to summer camp for six weeks and her parents will enroll her in a private school when she returns. Things seem to be going perfectly (too well even). Gabe's world is turned upside down when he and Rosemary are assigned new sparring partners in martial arts school. Gabe is jealous of Rosemary's new partner, a tall blonde boy who is much better at self-defense than Gabe. With time quickly running out, Gabe tries to get closer to Rosemary, but managing only to drive her away. In a desperate move to win Rosemary back, Gabe attempts to show off and earn his
yellow belt, but painfully fractures his hand attempting to break a board (he was just about to pass the test). His father tells Gabe that Gabe's parents' marriage fell apart because of things they left unsaid. After an argument on the phone, Gabe goes to find Rosemary at her aunt's wedding reception and declares his love. Taken aback, Rosemary replies she does not think she is ready for love, but is really happy to see Gabe and asks him to dance. As they dance, Gabe muses that he and Rosemary were on different paths—"like two ships that passed in
Sheep Meadow (in Central Park)". He returns home and his parents are laughing while reminiscing about their honeymoon. Gabe is pleased and surprised when his father says he "cleared out some old stuff" and his parents have reconciled. They happily go out for dinner and as the movie ends, Gabe, narrating, summarizes what Rosemary meant to him: "I'm never gonna get another first love. That one's always gonna be her." ==Cast==