Set in the 1970s,
The First State follows the fortunes of a young couple from California trying to salvage their new marriage. At odds with each other and unhappy with their personal lives, Philip and Jane search for happiness in a place far from home that challenges them to let go of past hostilities and fashion a new life together.
The story unfolds during one of America's times of significant change, capturing the era's rise of feminism, racial tensions, and evolving attitudes toward relationships and sexuality.