Handlingen er hensat til en snefyldt vinter i New Mexico, 1983, hvor den ensomme 12-årige Owen bliver ven med den mystiske pige Abby, der flytter ind ved siden af.

High school-eleven Carson vil gerne være journalist, men hans ambitioner har trange kår i skodbyen Clover. Så får Carson en genial ide. Han graver snavs op om sine medstuderende og truer med at offentliggøre det, medmindre de indvilger i at skrive for hans skoleblad. På den måde håber han at kunne fremstå som en stor inspirator, når optagelseskomiteen på hans ønskecollege gennemgår hans ansøgning.

The first part tells the story of Moses leading the Jews from Egypt to the Promised Land, his receipt of the tablets and the worship of the golden calf. The second part shows the efficacy of the commandments in modern life through a story set in San Francisco. Two brothers, rivals for the love of Mary, also come into conflict when John discovers Dan used shoddy materials to construct a cathedral.

A teenage musician goes on the run from killers and the police when he returns home to find his home empty and his family gone.

A young man in a depressed satellite city, meets a woman who offers him love and hope.