 The plot centers around a large area of land owned by an old black lady, Elvira Backus. It had been given to her by her one time employer and secret father of her two children, a southern patriarch. Discovering oil on the afore mentioned property, the patriarch s family tries to regain the land by destroying the deed and denying it ever existed. Coming to Elvira Backus s aid is attorney Willie Croft. He attempts to get back Elvira s land and leads the movie to it s eventual court scene.