"Tom and Viv" is the passionate, true and tragic love story of T.S. Eliot (Willem Dafoe), one of the greatest poets of the 20th Century, and his first wife, Vivienne (Miranda Richardson), a vivacious society beauty. After a whirlwind courtship, resulting in a quick marriage, their relationship comes under great strain as Vivienne struggles to handle her health problems and, worse still, the dangerous medicines prescribed for her which combined to cause her erratic and eccentric behaviour. As Eliot's career soared, Vivienne's behaviour became increasingly difficult for him and her family to handle, leading them towards a terrible act of convenience and betrayal.