An elderly New Brunswick man attempts to build a new home for his ailing wife, and gets caught up in bureaucratic red tape in this tender drama inspired by a true story. The son of a shipbuilder, 89-year-old Craig Morrison (James Cromwell) lives in rural St. Martins with his beloved wife Irene (Geneviève Bujold). Occasionally ornery yet always self-sufficient, the elderly farmer succeeded in keeping his traditional farm afloat even in the era of industrial agriculture. When Irene's memory starts to fade, however, Craig realizes that the large farmhouse they've shared for decades may no longer be suitable for them. Craig may be old, but he's still good with his hands, and before long he's begun construction on a cozy new home where they can spend their twilight years together. From the moment the first walls go up, however, meddlesome government inspector Rick (Jonathan Potts) seems determined to stop construction. Meanwhile, as Craig casually carries on with the project amidst a barrage of stop-work orders, Irene's condition grows progressively worse. If he's going to get the house built, he'll need to do it soon. Subsequently summoned into court for refusing to halt construction, a defiant Craig refuses to back down, even if it means going to jail before the house is finished.