 In 1902 Texas, 13-year-old Horace goes to work on old Soll s farm to earn enough money to buy a headstone for his father s grave. Unfortunately for Horace, Soll s senility, ill health, and obsession with the convict labor he uses to work the farm, make it unlikely that Horace will ever be paid the $12.50 Soll owes him for 6 months work.