Moving drama starring Sissy Spacek as Pam O'Brien, a woman who risks her marriage to help fight for clemency for Russell, her high school sweetheart, convicted of killing a policeman. Russell's sister explains to Pam that Russell committed the crime in the midst of a post-traumatic flash-back to Vietnam - a line of defence rejected by the courts. Convinced that Russell does not deserve to be electrocuted, Pam continues to fight on his behalf and in the process rekindles old feelings for him that threatens to destroy her marriage.