
Bernie Caine, a Royal Navy veteran, lives in a seaside care home in Hove with his wife, Rene Jackson, who requires more medical care than he does. Both remain mentally sharp. Disappointed to miss a group trip to Normandy, Bernie, with Rene’s support, decides to make the journey on his own. Despite using a walker and sometimes appearing tired or lost in thought – he has a clear purpose – the trip doesn’t overly exhaust him. Things become easier when he meets Arthur Howard-Johnson, another veteran from the RAF, on the ferry. Arthur offers Bernie a place with his group and a room at his hotel. As the story unfolds, Bernie becomes increasingly focused and energetic, even taking the lead, after Arthur initially looked after him. It’s revealed that both men carry a heavy weight of guilt stemming from events during the invasion.