Young, married couple Peter and Chloe take a belated honeymoon aboard a research vessel bound for Antarctica. But once on board, Peter, a writer, spends almost all of his time documenting the the work of whale biologist Roger Payne. Chloe, feeling increasingly neglected, becomes close with the enigmatic Captain Emerson. A betrayal separates the couple, both emotionally and physically, and they must struggle to uncover what each needs to move forward.