On its last leg homeward, from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to San Diego, the USS Constellation hosts a jolly "tiger cruise" for US Navy, Marines and USNAF relatives, mainly minors ("Navy brats"). Attitudes and emotions vary from simple joy to open frustration, the worst brat being XO commander Gary Dolan's daughter Maddie, who wants him to refuse a promotion to command for a shore job. Then the news of the WCC terror crisis changes everything, as the crew is recalled to war footing.

Two issues threaten a mother and her son: One, she has Alzheimer's and, two, he's not her son.

On the day a young mother will be sent away, she must entrust her infant daughter into the care of her own disappointed and disapproving mother. Both women struggle to find some small measure of connection at this terrible moment of forced parting.