Einar Gilkyson, for the past ten years bereaved by the death of his only son, has completely neglected his own ranch and destroyed his marriage. The only person Einar continues to care for is his hired worker and friend Mitch, who was horribly maimed by a grizzly bear. Having lost all contact with the outside world, this is how Einar plans to spend the rest of his life. But one day, his daughter-in-law Jean, whom he blames for his son's death, comes to visit him. Jean is also going through a far-from-perfect time in her life: she is broke, on the run, and has a little girl named Griff, who Jean says is Einar's granddaughter. Einar's quiet life comes to an end. The atmosphere heats up, and the characters can't refrain from outbursts of anger and mutual recriminations. But in the end, a miracle happens: 11-year-old Griff's interest in village life and her long-standing yearning for her family and father begin to melt the ice that has bound Einar's heart gradually.