In 1958, a young mother must choose between her troubled marriage and her children. Darla feels like a prisoner - she married Myers Carter on a whim, but is now bound to him and subject to his alcohol-induced mood swings and violence. She is protected by her butch sister-in-law, Jolene, who has her own, decidedly non-sisterly dreams about providing for Darla. One horrible night, a turning point is reached as Darla and Jolene risk everything to stand up against Myers.