The two-hour television movie tells the story of Caleb Gare (Sam Shepard), the richest farmer in the district who is obsessed with acquiring land. In spite of his wealth, he keeps his wife, Amelia (Alberta Watson), and their children, including their rebellious daughter Jude (Nadia Litz), in near-poverty. At the heart of this family is a terrible secret, a pact about motherhood and morality made years ago between Caleb and Amelia that has made hostages of them all. Hostages, that is, until a visitor (Liane Balaban) challenges Caleb's control of his family.