Serena

In Depression-era North Carolina, timber baron George Pemberton marries Serena Shaw after she joins him on his land. She quickly begins to press and second-guess George while remaining affectionate, reshaping the power dynamic between them.

Buchanan, George's business partner, feels threatened by Serena's growing control over the operation. The tension between the two men deepens as Serena pressures decisions, and Buchanan secretly strikes a deal with the local sheriff to buy George's land for a park.

On a shooting trip to flush out a bear, George contemplates killing Buchanan but hesitates and is seen by him. Buchanan cocks his rifle, and George fires first, killing him.

Campbell, George's worker, witnesses the shooting but denies it to Sheriff McDowell. The death is ruled an accident, allowing George to avoid immediate suspicion while Serena consoles him.

Seeing his illegitimate son Jacob with his mother, George begins giving money to Rachel in secret, trying to support them from the shadows. Serena remains unaware of the arrangement and nonetheless sees Rachel and the baby as a threat to their plans.

When Galloway loses his hand to an errant axe swing, Serena uses a belt as a tourniquet to save his life. George rushes the pregnant Serena to a hospital after she experiences heavy bleeding and pain, and they learn she has miscarried and cannot bear children.

Campbell steals ledgers from the safe and presents them to the Sheriff, intending to testify that George has been bribing a senator and deliberately shot Buchanan. Discovery of Campbell's actions makes George and Serena realize their ruin could be imminent.

Galloway goes into town to kill Campbell and retrieve the ledgers, hoping to silence the testimony. Meanwhile, Serena learns of the danger and schemes to protect their secrets.

George's hidden photo of Rachel and her baby is found, revealing his covert support. Serena scratches the baby's face from the photograph, erasing the evidence as tension peaks.

Serena leaves with Galloway, telling George she has business to tend to. Not finding Rachel at home, they head for Widow Jenkins’ home, as Vaughn and others worry about Rachel's safety.

The Sheriff questions George, and learns that Galloway killed Campbell and the Widow Jenkins and is after Rachel and her child. Serena's complicity remains in question as George resolves to protect Rachel and the baby.

George hands the ledgers to the Sheriff and asks for help to locate Rachel and her baby, offering to turn himself in. He races to save them, determined to outpace Galloway at the train station.

Galloway tracks Rachel to the train station, but Rachel hides in a shed and jumps onto the moving train to escape. George confronts Galloway and slashes his throat, ending the immediate threat to Rachel.

George bids Rachel and the baby farewell as they depart to live with Vaughn. He returns to the camp to hunt the panther; though wounded, he kills the animal with a hunting knife and dies from his injuries.

The Sheriff returns with George's body and Serena refuses to identify him. She then sets the cabin ablaze with a lighter and perishes in the flames, meeting a tragic end as the community mourns.