It is 1914, and twenty-five-year-old Frances Marion has left her (second) husband for the lure of Los Angeles, where she is determined to live independently as an artist. But the word on everyone's lips these days is "flickers" -- the silent moving pictures enthralling theatergoers. In this fledgling industry, Frances finds her true calling: writing stories for this new medium. She also makes the acquaintance of actress Mary Pickford, America's Sweetheart. The two ambitious young women hit it off instantly. Yet their astronomical success could come at a price. As Mary struggles to live her life under the spotlight, she wonders if it is possible to find true love, perhaps with the dashing actor Douglas Fairbanks. Frances, too, longs to share her life with someone. As in any good Hollywood story, dramas will play out,personalities will clash -- and even the deepest friendships might be shattered.