Roswell and Emily Gilbert were married for fifty-one years, but for the eight final years of their marriage Emily suffered from Alzheimer's disease and the bone disease osteoporosis. Often in pain, Emily begged to die. In March 1985, 75-year-old Roswell shot Emily in the head. He said it was an act of mercy, but he was tried for murder and convicted as the nation debated euthanasia.
Após a morte dos pais em um acidente de carro, uma bela adolescente e seu irmão são obrigados a viver na casa de parentes distantes no interior da Flórida. Sua chegada desperta o interesse do líder de uma gangue de jovens delinqüentes que, ao ser rejeitado, resolve transformar a vida do casal de irmãos em um verdadeiro inferno.
