Gilbert Grape (Depp) lives in Endora, a place where nothing much happens. The only times the police have something to do is when Gilbert's autistic brother, Arnie (DiCaprio), tries to climb up the town's watertower. Taking care of Arnie and their obese mother takes up most of Gilbert's time, leaving what few moments he has to working at the local grocery store. Then one day Becky (Lewis) and her grandmother pass through Endora and Gilbert's heart instantly seeks out Becky's. Gilbert falls in love with Becky, forcing Gilbert to choose between the life he's always known - the life he's barely lived - and a life he could have with Becky.