The Hubbards, a wealthy but corrupt family, are entertaining a dinner guest, William Marshall, a prominent Chicago businessman with whom they hope to partner in an enterprise to build a cotton mill in their sleepy Alabama town, called Paltou, taking advantage of low wages paid to workers. Marshall looks favorably on the plan and invites Regina Giddens to let him show her Chicago. After he leaves, Regina reveals that she plans to move to Chicago, taking her 17 year old daughter, Alexandra, with her. She plans to finally live the privileged life she believes she deserves, away from the backward place where they presently live.
