John Webb is recently widowed and living alone on the farm he and his brother used to share. He rarely sees his daughters, Jacqueline and Grace Ann, and his only company is Grey, the farm's longtime overseer. John's solitude is interrupted by his nephews, Carl and Gus Jr., who have been approached about drilling for oil on the farm. Tensions rise as John clashes with his opportunistic family.

It's 1918, the height of United States involvement in World War I - Liberty Bonds are sold, German immigrants are suspected as traitors or saboteurs, young men everywhere succumb to the patriotism and propaganda and enlist. In a small Texas town, Horace Robedaux feels the pressure - he doesn't want to leave his young wife Elizabeth and their young child Jenny - but Elizabeth's can't-do-anything-right little brother is constantly talking about the war, and Elizabeth's stern father, who opposed the marriage initially, now has plans to take care of his daughter and the child so Horace can fight for his country. However, the influenza epidemic sweeping the town (and the nation) may change everyone's plans.

A wounded bank robber takes over his brother's home.

Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.