James Krippendorf, is an anthropologist and a single dad trying to raise three kids and he's having a tough time of it. For the past two years, he's been living off a proxmire foundation grant to study an "undiscovered" tribe in New Guinea. Word comes that his lecture is due, but he's not ready. There is no tribe. and he's spent all the money rearing his dysfunctional children. As he bluffs his way through his presentation, he's shocked when informed...

In 1920s Indiana, the Ku Klux Klan gains sociopolitical influence behind the charismatic David 'Steve' Stephenson, who preaches patriotism and morality over prejudice.