During the American Civil War, a wounded Union soldier named John McBurney is discovered by a young girl who brings him to her Confederate girls' boarding school in the South. The headmistress, Martha Farnsworth, decides to let him stay until he recovers from his injuries, despite the initial discomfort and caution from the teachers and students. As John recuperates, he begins to charm the women and girls of the school, sowing seeds of jealousy and suspicion among them. Each woman’s growing affection for John leads to rivalries, which he manipulates to gain favor and secure his safety.

As John ingratiates himself further into their lives, the psychological tension escalates within the enclosed environment of the school. Factions form as relationships become increasingly complex and fraught with emotional entanglements. What starts as a gesture of compassion transforms into a web of mistrust and manipulation, pushing characters toward dramatic choices and drastic actions. The fragile equilibrium of their society is called into question as hidden motives surface, leading to unforeseen consequences.