Casey has rejected her privileged upbringing and restores old boats for a living. She lives a cozy life with her beautiful social worker girlfriend Alex until her stuffy family demands that she come home for Christmas – without Alex. Casey is a longshorewoman who seems to have everything she wants; she and her girlfriend Alex are very much in love. But there’s nothing like the holidays to bring out the drama of the average family. Casey lives just across the bay from her upper crust New England family. The proximity seems no accident: Casey can’t quite let go, despite her family’s judgmental and inescapable hold on her otherwise independent and unconventional life. When the family reunites for Christmas, the unwrapping of presents takes a back seat to the unraveling of emotions.

After five years in prison, Ellen is ‘’out’’ and ready to come to terms with her past. She begins by looking for Katrin, who was present the night of the crime. Hearing Katrin’s voice on the radio and learning that she is a DJ at a local nightclub, Ellen decides to go and wait for her at the door. At first, Katrin is frightened and does not want anything to do with Ellen. However Ellen persists. Flashbacks fill in the history of Katrin’s relationship with an abusive husband and her intimate relationship with Ellen. It soon becomes clear that Ellen’s devotion for Katrin is no less potent than before. Gradually Katrin yields to Ellen’s wishes. Before long, past events catch up with them an unexpected sting in the tail reveals a major twist.