Legendary acting duo and married couple Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor prepare for a 1983 theatrical production of the play "Private Lives."

Film star Elizabeth Taylor invites her ex-husband--twice over--Richard Burton to her 50th-birthday party where, as a recovering alcoholic, he refuses to get drunk with her. He does, however, consider her suggestion that they star in a stage revival of the play 'Private Lives.' As they announce the project, the press speculates on a romantic reconciliation. With a new girlfriend and the prospect of playing King Lear, Burton is not happy with the project, especially with Taylor's pill-popping and lack of stage experience, which causes problems at rehearsal. The play opens to a critical trashing but is popular with audiences, chiefly, again to Burton's chagrin, because they want to see Taylor; when she is ill, numbers dwindle and the show is put on hold. After a two-month run, with a projected tour, the curtain comes down and Taylor tells Burton she has always loved him and still does. A year later however, his old lifestyle catches up with him and he passes away.—don @ minifie-1