Dolores Claiborne (KATHY BATES) is arrested for the murder of the wealthy woman for whom she is a maid for in remote Maine.
After 15 years away, her daughter Selena (JENNIFER JASON LEIGH) returns fearful that history may have repeated itself. Back then Dolores was arrested for killing her husband Joe but found not guilty. Like Selena, Detective Mackey (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER) believes Dolores to be a double murderess. It falls to Selena to unravel the truth.