The story takes place during the Civil War. Mary (Addison Riecke), a female student at a church school, accidentally met the seriously injured Northern soldier McBurney (Colin Farrell). The kind Mary took McBurney back to the boarding school, without considering the threat that McBurney's presence would bring to the girls' boarding school, which was supported and maintained by Miss Martha (Nicole Kidman). As the only male in the school, McBurney's appearance was like a stone thrown into the calm water, causing ripples. Not only was the language teacher Edwina (Kirsten Dunst) unable to help herself but also the ignorant girl Alicia (Elle Fanning) who was just beginning to fall in love could not bear the restlessness in her heart.