Keith Kavanagh blames much of his problems - his life filled with problems more than they are not - on inherently a part of being born, raised and still stuck in "The Cove" in Newfoundland. In the law blaming Keith for anything criminally wrong that happens in The Cove - that blame which is often more than justified - his parents no longer want anything to do with him. On welfare, he spends whatever money he has on alcohol and drugs. He eventually wants to earn a living as a poet, but he does nothing with his stream-of-consciousness writings, which in his mind are never quite ready, without even knowing if anyone would publish them regardless. He believes his life has the potential to change when he meets Natasha Healy, with who he falls in love. With self-esteem issues, Natasha has a history of being attracted to the wrong types of men that will only drag her down. Again as he has always felt The Cove is the problem, they decide to start their life together in St. John's, which will demonstrate either if this change of scenery or the support they should be providing the other are enough to jump-start them into a more productive life.
—Huggo