Micki + Maude 1984

Rob Salinger, portrayed by Dudley Moore, is a beleaguered television reporter who finds himself caught up in a tumultuous mix of love, deception, and the complexities of parenthood. In a seemingly stable marriage to Micki, played by Ann Reinking, a determined lawyer with aspirations for a judgeship, Rob is eager to embrace fatherhood. However, Micki’s hesitations are rooted in a previous miscarriage and her relentless pursuit of her career goals. Their conflicting desires regarding starting a family plunge Rob into an unexpected romantic entanglement with Maude Guillory, a gifted young cellist, brought to life by Amy Irving, whom he meets during a work assignment.

As Rob and Maude’s relationship flourishes, he grapples with the ethical dilemmas of concealing his affair from Micki. Matters become even more complicated when Maude announces that she is pregnant, leading them to consider a marriage together. Just as Rob is on the brink of confessing his infidelity and seeking a divorce from Micki, an unexpected twist occurs: she, too, is expecting a child. Initially considering terminating her pregnancy to safeguard her career, Micki ultimately decides she wants to nurture a family with Rob.

In a tangled web of lies, Rob leads a precarious double life, balancing his daytime responsibilities as a husband to Micki while nurturing a relationship with Maude at night. With assistance from his boss and close confidant Leo, portrayed by Richard Mulligan, Rob manages to keep his secret under wraps until fate intervenes dramatically—both women go into labor at the same hospital at the same time.

As the story unfolds, an unlikely bond forms between the two women. However, their eventual confrontation with Rob’s deceit leads them to make the painful decision to exclude him from their lives and those of their children. Left in despair, Rob watches from a distance as they forge new lives, ultimately discovering a path toward reconciliation with both Micki and Maude.

The film culminates in a heartwarming finale, showcasing the women thriving in their professional lives: Micki now commands respect as a presiding judge in the courtroom, while Maude graces the stage with a symphony orchestra. The scene shifts to an older Rob, surrounded by his eight children—two from each family he adores—joyfully playing together in a sun-drenched park, a visual testament to the intertwined lives he cherishes.