<P> At a modern - day nursing home, an elderly man, Duke, reads a romantic story from his notebook to a fellow patient . </P> <P> In 1940, Seabrook Island, South Carolina, Noah Calhoun is smitten with 17 year old heiress Allison "Allie" Hamilton after seeing her at a carnival, and they have a summer love affair . Noah takes Allie to an abandoned house that he intends to buy for them . They try to make love, but are interrupted by Noah's friend Fin with the news that Allie's parents have the police looking for her . </P> <P> When Allie and Noah return to her parents' mansion, Allie's mother Anne calls Noah trash and they ban her from seeing Noah . Noah walks out and Allie chases after him . The ensuing argument between the two ends in a break up and the next morning, Anne announces that the family is returning home to Charleston . Allie attempts to contact Noah, but is unable to find him, so she asks Fin to tell Noah that she loves him . When Noah gets the message he rushes to Allie's home, only to find the house empty . </P> <P> Noah writes to Allie every day for a year but Anne intercepts the letters and they never reach Allie . Noah enlists with Fin to fight in World War II, where Fin is killed in battle . Allie volunteers in a hospital for wounded soldiers, where she meets officer Lon Hammond Jr., a young lawyer who comes from old Southern money . The two become engaged, to the delight of Allie's parents . </P>

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