Newspaper reporter Elden Tolbert (Devon Gummersall) returns to his rural hometown to cover the climactic courtroom drama of the small town's major scandal: Elsie Townsend (Marley Shelton), a beautiful young waitress at the local diner, has been accused of murdering Marsha Chambers (Talia Shire) and is on trial. As it happens, Tolbert is a former lover of Elsie's, and winds up as a witness called to testify.