A counselor at a Health and Wellness Center treats six patients in recovery while her own past trauma begins to resurface.

SYNOPSIS:

Beth, in her late 40’s is a counselor at a Health and Wellness Center. She is a silhouette as she stands alone on a bluff watching a beautiful sunset. She flashes a quick smile as a tear runs down her face and glances as a charm bracelet she clenches in her hand. Her boyfriend Jonathan send’s her a text message letting her know he's at the restaurant waiting for her.

Jonathan and Beth meet with two other mutual friends Tyler and Sara for dinner. They all work together as counselors. Right after dinner Tyler proposes to Sara. On their way back home, Jonathan and Beth talk about perhaps marriage plans for themselves as well. Beth wants that, however, she and Jonathan both know that Beth isn’t quite ready.

The Heath and Wellness Center located in beautiful Santa Barbara, California has a magnificent lobby coffee bar which is the epicenter to the resort. A promotional video is presented to advertise for a new program called “Caffeinated Enlightenment.” The program brings together mental health treatment with a daily robust collection of coffee house favorites. The Wellness Center has five star accommodation, fabulous dining options and relaxing recreation activities, something for everyone.

The new incoming arrival patients are Joseph, a man is his 70’s, Ryan, in his early 40’s, Jovanna, a woman in her mid 40’s, Cade, a man in his mid 30’s, Zoe, a young woman in her late 20’s, and Adam, a man in his late 30’s. They all have something in common, they all are suffering from something that has made them feel that they want to give up on life. They are there for treatment and to learn the skills they need to continue on with their lives.

Elaine, who is in her early 70’s is head therapist and is in charge of the entire program as well as one on one sessions with each patient. Her team consists of Beth, Jonathan, Tyler, and Sara. They meet to go over and familiarize themselves with the case histories of each new incoming arrival. Elaine’s team organizes and sets up orientation, daily sessions, group outings and all meetings for the new group. Orientation begins with a welcome address by Elaine then her team takes over from there. They discuss check in and answer any questions about their stay.

Elaine meets with her team one last time before treatments begin. Elaine informs her staff that a continuing education class that is completely mandated by the state of California must be completed by everyone. The title of the class puts Beth into a deep stare which concerns Elaine and Jonathan, the two people who know her best. Beth excuses herself and leaves the meeting as Elaine prompts Jonathan to follow and check on her.

Beth passes Jovanna who is watching the beekeeper on property give a presentation to a group of guests. Through their conversation Jovanna shares the fact that she hasn’t been home to visit her family because she is terrified to get on a plane by herself. Beth offers to go with her because she is aware how important it is to Jovanna.

Elaine’s first therapy session is with Zoe who has a severe drug and alcohol addiction. Cade was in a marriage where his wife physically and emotionally abused him.

Elaine has a conversation with Beth offering her an ear to listen if she ever wants to talk about the traumatic life experience she went through. Beth was surprised that Elaine knew about it because Beth has never shared her pain with anyone.

Beth, Jonathan, Tyler, and Sara conduct a stress management and relaxation session with the group of six. They practice breathing meditation. Later that same day the group meets in the lobby and they head out together to the local bike trail, and then onto the beach for additional self wellness instruction.

Later that night, back at Beth and Jonathan’s room, they relax as Beth finishes paperwork and Jonathan reads the newspaper. It’s a beautiful night and they decide to head downtown. As they stroll by the shops and restaurants they discuss the possibility of buying a home together. Beth is excited and they share their heartfelt feelings for each other.

Beth and Zoe are in line at the coffee bar early one morning and they sit and talk about how Zoe is doing. Beth offers her some advice that has helped her in the past. They walk out into the center of a lavender field as Beth shows her how to deal with urges related to Zoe’s recovery.

Elaine meets one on one with Ryan who has recently gone through infidelity on his wife’s part, and his divorce which has left him angry and lost. Elaine meets next with Adam who has a social anxiety disorder.

The group partakes in a physical fitness class as they all start to get to know one another. Later that same evening, they all meet for a healthy eating class in which they continue to learn about each other a bit more.

Beth heads to the tennis courts and observes Ryan taking a tennis lesson. Ryan heads over to Beth when he’s finished and they share a bit of Ryan’s past. Beth invites him to be her partner to have a match with Jonathan and Tyler. Elaine meets one on one with Jovanna who has a panic disorder which in the past, has been diagnosed as a symptom of hyperthyroidism. Elaine isn’t convinced that the cause of her issues are not medically related. Elaine then meets with Joseph who has recently lost his wife. Joseph’s emotions are difficult for him to control because his wife died of cancer and never told him she was sick.

Beth and Jonathan are in their room house hunting online. They narrow down their search and spontaneously make an appointment to go see a property. They meet with the realtor and tour the home. The realtor gives them a few moments in the back yard to discuss further by themselves. They both love it and want to put in an offer on the property. This is a big step for both of them in their relationship.

The group has a creative therapy session in which they make pottery and then onto a hike up a mountain that overlooks the ocean. Their group session is to guide them how to just be present in the moment and present in their lives.

Beth runs into Adam sitting alone in the lobby with piles of books in front of him that he had brought with him. They discuss what they enjoy reading and Beth gets an idea to take Adam to downtown where there is an outdoor book shop. They share time together that makes Adam comfortable and happy.

Beth surprises the group on a weekend off as they venture out on a trolly to a local orange orchard. Beth and Jonathan are friends with the owners and they volunteer to help harvest the oranges for the day. Afterwards they all go out to dinner together and enjoy each other's company. The next day, which is still a day off for everyone, Beth thought it would be a good idea for everyone to get together and just talk. It doesn’t go as Beth had envisioned and the group express negativity and their feelings about giving up because it’s easier. The group disperses and Beth is unsure what went wrong. The next morning the group finds Beth and apologizes for their behavior.

It’s evening at sunset and Jonathan watches Beth out on the bluff by herself. Joseph walks by and talks a few moments with Jonathan. Joseph mentions that it seems like Beth is suffering in silence over something. Jonathan acknowledges he feels the same way, but Beth has never told him what had happened years ago. On the way back to their room Jonathan and Beth discuss maybe getting away for awhile. This leads to a conversation that Beth does anything she can to avoid talking about her past and her family. Beth walks off back to their room and takes a shower. Jonathan wants to talk about what she’s been hiding from him. Jonathan is agitated with Beth’s avoidance of the subject and walks right into the shower with all his clothes on and blocks her from leaving until she tells him. Jonathan pushes Beth to her breaking point and she weeps in despair as she reveals ten years ago she lost her husband and two young children in a car accident. Beth was the only survivor.

Time spent together has created bonds between Jovanna and Ryan, Zoe and Joseph, and Cade and Adam.

Jonathan and Beth go to one of their favorite restaurants, which is also the place that they first met. They always have boxes of food to take home with them and this visit was no exception. Jonathan proposes to Beth as he had the waitress, who was in on the proposal, tie the engagement ring to the top of the take home boxes.

Beth has a late night conversation with Cade by the pool. Beth sits and enjoys time with Joseph under the big oak tree. Beth asks Joseph if he believes that when we die,we are reunited with our loved ones. Joseph tells Beth he believes that to be true one hundred percent.

The next morning Elaine comes to find Beth with panic in her voice. Elaine tells Beth to come quickly, it’s Joseph. Beth gets to Joseph’s room with Jonathan right behind her, to find that Joseph had died in his sleep. Later that day Elaine brings Beth a letter that Joseph had left for her. Joseph’s letter mentions at the end that he will be there when she and Jonathan get married. Joseph said, he and his wife will be the two birds that fly overhead.

Beth is once again standing alone on the bluff watching the sunset. Jonathan approaches and joins her. As they stand there holding hands they are also joined by Jovanna, Ryan, Zoe, Adam, and Cade to support Beth in solidarity.

Having a birds eye view of Beth and Jonathan getting married under the big oak tree with just a few guests present. There is a gentle breeze as two birds fly overhead, directly behind them is another adult bird followed by two baby birds.