Mississippi, 1946. Pete Banning was a hero of the town of Clanton—an ideal Southerner: a war veteran, a faithful husband, a loving father of two children, a believing Christian, a successful farmer, a kind neighbor. But one autumn morning, Pete Banning wakes up early, drives into town… and cold-bloodedly kills the parish priest Dexter Bell. And the only thing he says during police questioning and to his lawyer is: “I have nothing to say.” The defense attorney understands that the veteran is truly ready to go to the electric chair rather than explain what drove him to commit the crime. And the only chance to save his client from execution is for the lawyer to find out what forced him to do such a terrible deed…