A young gay writer inherits his grandmother's crumbling East Hampton beach house, and while grappling with the financial burden, he falls for a charming painter who tempts him to trade his independence for a wealthy lover to save their dreams and their budding romance.

Kentucky, 1861. Francis and Henry Mellon depend on each other to keep their unkempt estate afloat as winter encroaches. After Francis takes a casual fight too far, Henry ventures off in the night, leaving each of them to struggle through the wartime on their own.