On a sumptuous August day in 1952, in an agrarian setting, 14-year-old Francis Carroll inadvertently overhears a rancorous confrontation between two farmers. Several hours later one of the men is murdered. The occurrence traumatizes an Irish community and mesmerizes a nearby city where the ensuing trial is held. As a reluctant witness, Francis struggles through the ordeal of testifying. The ongoing story then blends the tragedy, history, and exhilaration of a Canadian Irish experience.