In the middle of a heatwave in 1977 Queens New York, 20-year old Jenny Elwood is told she's three months pregnant by her uncompassionate, chain smoking doctor. Jenny goes home; where she lives with her unemployed, alcoholic, complicated mother and sweet Nan, and declares to her Nan that her life is over. Her understanding Nan sits down on Jenny's bed and tells her that her life is indeed not over and tells her, her story that started in the middle of a heatwave in 1943.