Esther is living in rural Quebec. Her husband Jocelyn is a lumberjack who has been away for months on a job in the far north. As she waits for her husband to return, she occasionally spends time with her friend Bernadette, whose presence makes the long winter bearable. The two women talk, look at pictures, share memories and prepare a cake together. Jocelyn is also lonely and longs to return home. As he rides the train across the isolated countryside, he learns that the other men share his sentiment.