Bess McNeill (Emily Watson) lives a calm and quaint Christian life amongst the Scottish Highlands. Despite the unease of her local community and church, she marries Jan (Stellan Skarsgård), the love of her life, a Norwegian oil rig worker who is often away working for long periods of time. Lonely and besotted, Bess prays for his quick return. A wish that is granted when an accident occurs on the rig paralysing Jan. He is flown back to the Scottish mainland.