Home Front

On her 41st birthday, National Guard helicopter pilot Jolene Zarkades wakes before dawn and goes for a seven-mile run. She returns home and watches the news for updates about the Iraq War. She is relieved to learn none of her friends have died overnight. Her two daughters, Betsy and Lulu, wish Jolene a happy birthday. Betsy says their father, Michael, has already left for work, which surprises Jolene.

After taking her daughters to school, Jolene returns to her neighborhood and picks up her best friend, Tami Flynn, who lives next door. Together, the women drive to Fort Lewis, where they practice flying Black Hawk helicopters.

Michael Zarkades makes the two-hour commute from his home in Poulsbo to downtown Seattle. He tries to work during his ferry ride but struggles because his father, who was also his legal partner, died 11 months ago. When he arrives at his office, a colleague, Bill Antham, tells Michael about a case a judge has assigned them. The client, Keith Keller, allegedly shot his wife in the head after barricading himself inside their home. Bill asks Michael to take the case because he and his wife have planned a vacation to Mexico, and Michael agrees. Michael immerses himself in his work as an escape from his grief. Michael’s secretary says Jolene is on the phone and reminds him that it is his wife’s birthday. The couple decide to have dinner at home after their daughters are in bed. Michael says he will be home at 8 o’clock that night.

Jolene prepares for a romantic evening with Michael. After reading Lulu a story, she goes to Betsy’s room. Jolene encourages Betsy to hang out with Seth, Tami’s son, but Betsy says everyone thinks he is weird. Jolene reminds her daughter that Seth is quiet and still her friend. They say goodnight, and Jolene goes back downstairs.

As dinner simmers on the stove, Jolene recalls meeting Michael at the legal aid office the week her parents died. He promised to help her stay out of foster care. Michael also told Jolene to come back in a few years so he could take her to dinner. Six years later, Jolene saw him again, and they started dating.

At 8:50 pm, Jolene goes inside and sees dinner has been overcooked. Michael calls to apologize, saying he got busy and forgot to come home on time. After the call, Tami knocks on the kitchen door. They go to the living room and talk about Jolene’s struggles with Michael and his preoccupation with work. After a few minutes, Jolene begs to change the topic.

Michael arrives home after midnight with pink roses, though he realizes too late that Jolene prefers red roses. He, too, thinks of the first time he met his wife and the courage she demonstrated. Michael puts the roses in a vase and takes them upstairs along with a small Tiffany box. Jolene is already asleep.

The next morning, Michael apologizes and gives Jolene the Tiffany box. She opens it to find a beautiful watch engraved to mark her birthday. Michael then asks how Jolene got through her parents’ deaths, but she sidesteps the question. She reminds her husband about her birthday party that night at Captain Lomand’s house. Michael says he will take the family to dinner tomorrow instead.

That afternoon, Tami arrives at Jolene’s house. As they wait for Betsy and Lulu to get ready, they discuss how much Seth misses Betsy’s friendship. The four women drive to the captain’s house. When they arrive, Tami’s husband, Carl, and her son Seth meet them. When Jolene enters the captain’s backyard, everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to her. She is touched but sad about Michael’s absence.

On Wednesday, Jolene goes to Betsy’s school for career day, to Betsy’s great embarrassment. Jolene shares some of her experiences flying a Black Hawk, and the students enjoy her stories. Betsy’s behavior continues to deteriorate as she struggles to fit in with her peers. Jolene tries to talk to Michael about her concerns, but he tells her to stop trying to control everything. Later that morning, Jolene reminds Michael to attend Betsy’s track meet that afternoon. Michael tells Betsy he will be there but walks out the door as she tries to talk to him, leaving her saddened.

At his office, Michael talks to Edward Keller on the phone about his son’s case. Edward says Keith is a good man. Michael ends the call and thinks about how to keep his appointment with Keith and also make it to Betsy’s track meet on time.

Michael goes to the King County jail and meets with Keith. Michael tries to get him to explain what happened on the day of his wife’s death, but Keith refuses to respond. Michaels gives up and packs his belongings. As he is about to call for a guard, Keith asks why he should bother talking when he is guilty of killing his wife. Michael sits back down and talks to Keith about the relationship between attorneys and their clients.

Jolene picks up her mother-in-law, Mila, at her gardening shop, and they go to Betsy’s middle school for her track meet. When Betsy sees them arrive, she runs to them and says hello. Jolene tries to support and reassure her daughter, but Betsy believes she will lose her race. Tami arrives a few minutes later. Jolene begins to worry about Michael making it on time. She calls him, and he says he is at the jail just as Betsy approaches the starting line. Jolene hangs up to cheer as her daughter races down the track and takes second place. Betsy looks into the stands for her dad, her smile slowly fading. Mila explains that Michael’s dad, Theo, often missed Michael’s events because of work.

At the meet’s end, the group leaves the bleachers to find Betsy. Jolene congratulates her on her performance, but Betsy shrugs off the compliments. Mila suggests they go out for pizza and ice cream. Everyone feels the weight of Michael’s absence.

After dinner, Jolene drops Mila off before returning home. She puts Betsy and Lulu to bed and sits in the living room, determined to get Michael to understand what he is doing to his family. Michael arrives after 9 o’clock at night. Jolene tells him how much he hurt Betsy today and asks why she and the girls are not important to him anymore. Michael accuses Jolene of controlling every element of their life and disregarding his wants. They continue to argue until Michael says he no longer loves Jolene.

Michael considers apologizing to Jolene and taking back what he said, but he does not. Jolene asks him to talk to Betsy, who overheard her father tell her mother he does not love her. Jolene then asks Michael if he wants a divorce, but he says he does not know. He goes upstairs to talk to Betsy, but she tells him to leave. Michael enters his daughter’s room anyway and apologizes for missing her meet. He explains that adults fight and that he did not mean what he said to Jolene. Betsy forgives him.

From her bedroom, Jolene hears Michael leave the house and drive away, wondering if he will return. She feels that Michael’s words have changed her. The next morning, Jolene tries to act like everything is normal, but Betsy can tell something is wrong. After taking the girls to school, Jolene goes next door and tells Tami about what happened the night before. As Tami tries to comfort her, the phone rings. When she hangs up, Tami tells Jolene the National Guard is deploying their unit.

Jolene sits in the rain thinking about her deployment and how it will change her family. She wonders who will care for her girls and about the risks of going to war. She also knows she will fulfill her duty despite her fear and sadness.

That afternoon, Jolene calls Michael and tells him he needs to come home tonight. He reluctantly agrees. She takes the girls to Mila’s house, where they will stay overnight. Jolene wants her mother-in-law’s comfort and support but cannot yet tell her about her deployment.

Jolene returns home and waits for Michael. When he arrives, Jolene immediately tells him of her deployment. Michael says she is not a real soldier and refuses to allow her to go. Jolene reminds him that she will go to jail if she deserts, so Michael tells her to quit. They continue to argue until Jolene storms off to the bedroom. Michael eventually enters, looking angry and defeated. They sit on the bed, and Michael accepts that his wife is going to war. Jolene feels relieved, but the couple sits in silence until they turn out the lights.