Wanda (Laura Dern) is a dirt-poor Louisiana mother pregnant with her fifth child who answers a wealthy couple's "baby wanted" ad. Rachel (Stockard Channing) is the would-be adoptive mother who quietly clashes with Laura at every turn.

Fact-based story of Lori Jackson, a civil rights activist who gained national attention for forcing the courts to re-look at the conviction of a black marine she felt was wrongly accused of rape.