Chuck Glover, a young and dedicated field agent for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), is sent to a small Southern town to oversee the final stages of a major dam project. His mission is to convince the last holdout, an elderly and stubborn matriarch named Ella Garth, to vacate her family’s land, which will soon be submerged under the dam's reservoir. Ella’s resistance is staunch, rooted in her deep connection to the land and her distrust of the federal government's intentions. Chuck faces not only her fierce opposition but also the deep-seated racial and social tensions that permeate the town.

During his time there, Chuck becomes increasingly involved with Ella’s widowed granddaughter, Carol, whose personal struggles and complex feelings toward her home further complicate his mission. As Chuck navigates the emotional landscape of Carol's family and the local community, he confronts moral and ethical dilemmas that challenge his professional objectives. The intersecting lives, motives, and histories of Ella, Carol, and Chuck create a poignant exploration of change, loss, and human resilience, set against the backdrop of a transforming American South.