A disputed news story and a mass stranding of deepwater dolphins on Florida's central gulf coast bring together Dave Bradlee, Public Information Director for the Dolphinarium, and Kate Hammond, an environmental writer. She is critical of keeping dolphins and other animals in captivity, telling him we are all stewards, or should be, and have a duty to protect them. Despite their disagreement and the fact that he is married, they have an affair. Not wanting to lose her, Dave tries to show her that he is a good steward, both to the captive and wild dolphins. But he becomes so intent on keeping Kate in his life, that he neglects the stewardship of his own family and suffers severe consequences.