Jewel Mae "Cookie" Orcutt (Patricia Neal) is a widowed lady who lives in a small town called Holly Springs. She commits suicide by shooting herself on the Easter weekend and her body is discovered by her two nieces Camille (Glenn Close) and Cora (Julianne Moore). Camille is too conscious of family reputation and eats the suicide note while making it look like murder with help of Cora. Police throws Willis (Charles S. Dutton) who was Jewel’s caretaker in the jail when it cannot find anyone. Cora also has a daughter Emma (Liv Tyler) who does not live with her and is very close to Willis. She is having an affair with a police officer (Chris O'Donnell) and comes to jail to keep Willis’ company. However, everything comes in open just before Camille’s play goes on the stage.