FollowingtheSecondWorldWar,anortherncannerycombinenegotiatesforthepurchaseofalargetractofuncultivatedGeorgiafarmland.ThemajorportionofthelandisownedbyJulieAnnWarrenandhasalreadybeenoptionedbyherunscrupulous,draftdodginghusband,Henry.Nowthecombinemustalsoobtaintwosmallerplots-oneownedbyHenryscousinRadMcDowell,acombatveteranwithawifeandfamilytheotherbyReeveScott,ayoungblackmanwhosemotherhadbeenJulieschildhoodMammy.ButneitherRadnorReeveisinterestedinsellingandtheyformanunprecedentedblackandwhitepartnershiptoimprovetheirland.Althoughinfuriatedbytheturnofevents,Henryremainsdeterminedtopushthroughthebiglanddeal.AndwhenReevesmotherRosedies,HenrytriestopersuadehiswifetochargeReevewithillegalownershipofhisproperty,confidentthethebigotedJudgePurcellwillruleagainstaNegro.