An immigrant (Hanks) fleeing the war that ravages his tiny Eastern European homeland finds himself stuck in the terminal of one of New York City's airports when the time of his landing coincides precisely with the point at which the war causes his nation of origin to no longer exist, meaning that his passport and paperwork are no longer valid. As a man without a home, he takes up residence in the terminal itself, befriending the staff of the airport, and falling in love with an airline flight attendant.
In Depression-era Chicago, hit man Michael O'Sullivan (Tom Hanks) is known to friends and enemies alike as the "Angel of Death". Uncompromising in his work, O'Sullivan is just as devoted to his private life as an upstanding husband and father of two young boys.
Mr. Newton, head of a suburban family of five, who thinks the best pets are goldfish, keeps his family running in an orderly fashion. That is until their entire lifestyle is disrupted by the antics of an enormous but beguiling St. Bernard named Beethoven.
