When Frederick Magee learned of the death of his former fiancee's father. he knew that his family life-with his now pregnant wife and ten-year-old daughter-would be in grave danger. Immediately, he makes plans to relocate his family out of town, to prevent his wife from learning of his infidelity with his former fiancee, which produced a son a year younger than his daughter. However, his domineering mother refuses to go along, and, also, to allow him to leave her and the business he manages for the family. To prevent her son's relocation efforts, she sets about exposing his past unfaithful deeds. Frederick and his mother, locked it a survival struggle, cause a violent injury resulting in her death.