Twenty–three year old Ash Kroth comes from an old southern family of wealth and prestige. It's 1936, but despite this, and his driven political ambition to one day become governor, Ash recklessly pursues beautiful "Negro" college student Kitty Wilkes. Ash's life is forever changed because of Kitty, and thirty years later, as a segregationist governor, he must confront the consequences of his love for her.