A bitter, cantankerous 75-year old widower, who has just lost his only daughter, reluctantly goes on vacation with his heartbroken, estranged son-in-law and angry grandson.
Character DrivenFamilyLove StoryRural
Time Period: PresentSpecial Effects: No SFXIt all begins with Anna’s funeral. Anna was Charley’s (75) only daughter, Ethan’s (46) wife and Max’s (11) mother. Her death forces these three generations of males to rethink their relationship with each other.
Although he was close to Anna, his only daughter, Charley never showed much interest in her husband nor their son. Following his wife’s death, Ethan thinks it’s time that he got to know Anna’s father and encourage a relationship between him and Max, his son.
Although reluctant, Charley agrees to join his son-in-law and grandson for their summer vacation at Sunset Lake.
Once there, Max’s sullen teenage attitude and Charley’s cantankerous personality make for an uncomfortable, if not unbearable, vacation. Ethan continues to quietly grieve and doesn’t seem to have the energy to fight with his son, even though Max’s anger at losing his mother is now aimed toward him and Charley.
Add to this mix, the lively and lovely widow (Lizzie, 72) living in the cabin next door who tries to get Charley to lighten up about life. She is friendly, flirtatious and talkative – all the things that Charley is trying to avoid. However, Lizzie’s positive “nagging” finally wears Charley down and he begins, not only to enjoy her company, but to see his grandson through a different set of eyes.
Eventually camaraderie between grandfather and grandson blossoms after Charley shows his true colors and Max decides he’s not just a crazy old man. Amid days of fishing and boating all three men come to finally understand and respect each other. Charley finds it difficult to leave Lizzie when the vacation comes to end.
Lizzie collapses several days before the vacation is over and Charley finds her – thinking she must have had a heart attack. With Ethan and Max away for the day, he initially panics and then drives her to the nearest hospital himself – even though he doesn’t have a driver’s license. This unexpected emergency puts strain on both of them and makes them realize how precious their time together has been.
The transformation that all characters experience over two weeks will touch the hearts of all ages.
