在南方德高望重家族的領導人（博艾爾斯飾）告知他的孩子們他即將死於癌症之際，謊言和秘密一一浮現，可能讓整家人分崩離析。醫生們說癌症已經減緩；一位追逐私利的兒子說自己很愛父親；而最受寵受的兒子布里克（紐曼飾）酗酒，不肯和愛他的美麗太太（泰勒飾）發生關係，並且拒絕誠實地面對原因。

Hugh Carver is an athletic star and a freshman at Prescott College. He falls in love with Cynthia Day, a popular girl who loves to party, and finds that it's impossible to please her and still keep up with his studies and athletic training. Soon the two face some difficult decisions.

17-year-old track star, John Owens, has never used any drug stronger than pot, until he meets an older woman who introduces him to crack cocaine. He quickly becomes addicted but is able to hide his problem from all except his best friend, Chris.

Director Steve James returns to his home town of Hampton, Virginia to tell the story of how the trial of a young basketball star left a city divided.