Old friends Fred (Michael Caine) and Mick (Harvey Keitel) share their idyllic holiday home in the mountains, an elegant spa hotel with an almost magical aura, but they have completely different ideas about their retirement work. While the famous composer and conductor Fred indulges in sweet idleness, the busy director Mick is preoccupied with his latest film project, which threatens to burst through the whims of his muse Brenda (Jane Fonda). Fred's rest, on the other hand, is disturbed by an emissary from Buckingham Palace: the Queen herself would like to hear the "Simple Songs" performed by their creator - an offer Fred flatly refuses, much to the chagrin of his daughter and manager Lena (Rachel Weisz). The composer would rather relax with his friend Mick and the quirky actor Jimmy (Paul Dano), philosophise about life and comment on the quirks of the other guests.