Navy pilot William Beckington always felt like his best friend, Ted, was queer and that he loved him, so why did he have so much trouble accepting it at first? However, once he was finally ready to begin a new life with him, Bill accidentally shot him down during a dogfight, sending him crashing into the Korean mountains. He searched the blizzard, but never saw him again, causing the Navy to deem Ted “Missing in Action” and leaving Bill blaming himself for his death for seventy years.
Now, in 2023, the Incident still haunts Bill; he mourns Ted every day and has had no luck with PTSD counselors. Hell, he never wants to see a Corsair, the plane he flew, again.
Out of options, Bill’s adopted daughter, Natalie, signs him up behind his back to begin volunteering in Charleston, SC, on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. She knows his time is ending, but does not want him to die, still grieving and feeling guilty.
Although reluctant, Bill, who hopes to be a better dad to Natalie, agrees to try Patriots Point. However, on his first day there, he crashes into it: the Corsair—and vows not to return to Yorktown. Yet, he can’t help but feel nostalgic about the majestic aircraft carrier, which resembles the one he and Ted served on. Suddenly, Bill’s returning and spending time with the Corsair, finally cueing his long-awaited healing journey.
While Bill continues volunteering, he learns the tragic backstories of his new boss, Temple, and a mysterious woman, Tallulah. He also confronts Natalie’s backstory with the help of a new friend they pick up on the road, a dog whom Bill names “Teddy”.
The future looks promising, but flashbacks and PTSD continue eating Bill alive. Then, he finds Ted’s name on a Carrier Aviation Memorial in Yorktown’s Hangar Bay, sparking new ways for him to grieve and find closure—all thanks to his discovery and a 1944 film Temple recommends he watch, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo.
As the weeks pass, Bill notices Tallulah, Natalie, and Temple working on something known as the “big” surprise, and Bill wonders if it has something to do with Ted. He can’t be alive, though. It would’ve taken a miracle to survive a horrendous plane crash.
Things worsen on Bill’s ninety-second birthday after Teddy becomes aggressive toward Natalie during a Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo movie night with Tallulah. Natalie’s fear sparks a panic attack and a heart abnormality, leaving her hospitalized. Now, Bill feels even guiltier and turns Teddy over to the Humane Society, despite Natalie’s pleas for him not to.
Temple explains that Teddy is the best thing that’s happened to them since Bill rescued Natalie from the shootout that killed her parents, allowing him to finally accept his mistake, Ted’s death, and confession. He, Natalie, and Tallulah rescue Teddy from the shelter; however, one more adventure awaits when Bill returns to Patriots Point.
It’s time for him to confront the “big” surprise and begin a new journey.
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and then Add to home screen.