Content Warning: Both the source material and this guide contain descriptions of animal abuse, violence, and injury.

Sarah Tomlin, a researcher and doctoral student, takes an eight-day-old chimpanzee from its mother and brings it back to Canada.

Ben Tomlin, Sarah’s son, is worried that his father, Richard, will forget his promise to celebrate Ben’s June 30th birthday with him.

After school ends, Richard and Ben spend six days traveling across Canada, from Toronto to Victoria, relocating for Richard's new job. Ben is upset over the move but enjoys the trip at first. However, Ben grows frustrated with the quiet car rides, tight schedule, and lack of freedom. Ben's frustration peaks at one stop when his snack gets stuck in a vending machine. He nearly topples the machine, trying to retrieve it. Richard lectures him but promises more fun the next day.

They arrive at their new house outside Victoria. Ben finds the house dingy and uninspiring, but it is big.

On Ben's birthday, the moving van arrives, and he and Richard spend hours helping the movers. When they finish, Ben is excited about the promised birthday swim, but Ben's mom, Sarah, arrives with a baby chimpanzee.

Sarah wishes Ben a happy birthday, something Richard failed to say.