during world war ii, daisy cooper (rebecca jenkins) returns home to her small alberta town after she and her soldier husband, teddy (michael ontkean), are split by the japanese invasion of hong kong. while waiting for the war to end and to learn if teddy is alive or dead, she joins a swing band as a singer to provide for her family, performing with them in many community halls. daisy and her children initially live with her husband's parents, but later rent a house for themselves, as daisy chafes under her in-laws' scrutiny. daisy struggles to balance societal expectations of fealty and commitment to her children, while also struggling to financially support herself and her children by travelling and performing with the band. a trombonist in the band has a secret past and a not so secret yearning. daisy struggles with an impossible choice as she hears that teddy is returning home.