The deep, lonely, Appalachian Mountains provide the setting for a tense reunion between a husband, Teddy –turned unfruitfully idealistic after the war– and his wife, Marion –armed with courage and knowledge found in the years without him. Their former relationship lies lost somewhere in the five years that have passed, but they share one common, unspoken, interest: to build a future.
In the heart of winter, their life and profession as tailors becomes complicated by newfound desires, talents, and a broken pair of glasses. Unable to sew, Teddy must pick up other work. Meanwhile, Marion moves back to the familiar feeling of working without her husband –and more than familiar, it may be preferable, too.
As each find their paths lead away from the other, they are forced to confront that it’s not only life that has changed: they have changed.