The Mating Game

Wendell Burnshaw alerts the Internal Revenue Service to the Larkin family. Lorenzo Charlton is assigned to the case by his boss Oliver Kelsey. The Larkins learn they are now under government scrutiny as the investigation begins.

Lorenzo travels to the Larkin family farm in Maryland and is warmly welcomed by Ma and Pop, who are unaware of the real reason for his visit. The meeting marks the uneasy start of their working relationship. The family hopes for a quick, informal resolution, even as the inquiry unfolds.

Lorenzo learns that the Larkins have never filed a tax return. The lack of records makes determining back taxes a difficult task. The family cooperates with him in hopes of finding a way forward.

The Larkins typically trade for what they need and maintain few, if any, financial records. Lorenzo begins gathering whatever information is available while trying to understand their way of life. The situation tests both sides’ patience and resourcefulness.

Lorenzo and Mariette, the eldest Larkin daughter, begin to develop feelings for each other. He tries to stay focused on the case, but the romance slowly softens his formerly buttoned-down demeanor. The personal tension intersects with the professional investigation.

As time passes, Pop encourages Lorenzo to relax and even drink a strong alcoholic beverage. Lorenzo's rigid demeanor loosens, affecting his professional focus. Burnshaw and Kelsey notice the change and react with concern.

Burnshaw and Kelsey drop by to check progress, and Kelsey becomes displeased with Lorenzo's loosened attitude. He takes charge of the investigation and calls for Lorenzo to return to the IRS office in disgrace. The setback complicates the case but does not end it.

Kelsey calculates that the Larkins owe $50,000, a sum the family cannot pay. He presents the ultimatum: sell the farm to Burnshaw or face foreclosure. The Larkins’ friends rally to help, but Pop refuses to let them exploit the situation.

The Larkins' community rallies around them, offering to buy some of their junk at inflated prices to cover the back taxes. Pop refuses to accept the offer, valuing his family’s independence over a rushed cash infusion. This moment underscores the family's pride and solidarity.

Mariette visits Lorenzo seeking a solution and a glimmer of hope through a government receipt for 30 Civil War horses bought and never paid for. The possibility links their present crisis to a long-ago government transaction. The visit deepens the personal stakes of the case.

Inspector General Bigelow's legal department determines that the Larkins are owed more than 14 million dollars, including interest. The news shocks the family and Lorenzo as they realize the potential scale of the restitution. Pop wrestles with whether to accept a windfall earned by others’ purchases.

Lorenzo convinces Bigelow to apply the 14-million-dollar amount against present and future taxes owed, rather than issuing a cash payout. Pop initially resists, feeling he did nothing to earn the money, but a path forward emerges. The shift reframes the case from payment to ongoing relief.

The government’s plan to apply the windfall to future taxes reduces immediate debt and foreclosures. The Larkins rally around the decision, seeing a route to keep the farm. Lorenzo’s role as intermediary between duty and mercy becomes clearer.

The case resolves with the windfall applied to ongoing tax liabilities, preventing foreclosure and acknowledging the Larkins’ generosity. Lorenzo maintains his professional integrity as the community supports them. The film closes on a hopeful note about duty, mercy, and family.

The Larkins’ story ends with a practical compromise that respects the law while recognizing the family’s character. The tax authorities’ decision to apply the back-due amount to future liabilities stands as the film’s final note. The Larkins’ farm remains a symbol of community support.