After washing up on the Winnipeg shore, the arid Midwestern soil kept Sam running in place. His old life behind him, he cleaned his apartment for coins as his girlfriend took away her rent-paying job. After she slammed the door, only his cousin's offer of work kept him from his parents' basement.

Hired without qualifications, and surrounded by suspicious and silent colleagues, Sam frantically fished through his desk and paperwork, trying to lift anything into the light which would explain where he was.

When Amy showed up at his door, his initial reluctance to take on crew softens. The mainsail could use an extra hand, and he could sail through the night. Before long he is working on parenting and keeping his head low for the storm that is sure to drive him onto the rocks.