In the small-town Texas community of Carthage, a charismatic mortician Bernie Tiede forms an unlikely friendship with wealthy widow Marjorie Nugent, whose controlling and abusive nature sparks a downward spiral for the well-intentioned but ultimately tragic hero. As their relationship deepens, Tiede's charity and kindness are slowly drained by Nugent's toxic behavior, culminating in a shocking crime that sets off a chain reaction of events in this true story-based dark comedy-thriller.