Ted Kennedy's life and political career become derailed in the aftermath of a fatal car accident in 1969 that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.

A young Harvard counselor, Ellen Dane, only wants to help. A yearning client, Matthew Jude, only wants to be healed. The closer they become, the further they must go until imposing one's view on another has unimagined consequences.