The River

Tom and Mae struggle as the local economy sours and land prices fall. Their land along the river is prone to flooding, increasing the risk of foreclosure. The couple clings to the hope of keeping their ancestral home.

Wade manipulates local power to buy up properties along the river to build a dam. The dam would generate electricity and provide irrigation for farms away from the river. His plans threaten the Garveys and their neighbors.

Tom takes a steel factory job to avert foreclosure. He discovers he is a strikebreaker as he crosses the picket lines, facing difficult working conditions and meager pay. The new life in the city highlights the distance from home.

Mae suffers a serious accident on the farm, losing a lot of blood and nearly losing her arm. The incident tests the family's resilience and shows the dangers of rural life. She receives medical care after the ordeal.

Tom invites the rest of the family to visit him in the city to see how life differs from the farm. The visit reveals the harsh realities on both sides and the strain of separation. They gain new perspective on their shared hardships.

The strike ends and returning workers must walk out without the protections they had when entering. Instead of a direct fight, workers and scabs observe one another, and mutual desperation leads to shame and wary quiet.

Wade has Tom's corn inspected and offers less than the cost of planting and tending it. The offer triggers a confrontation about the dam and redevelopment plans that would reshape the land. Tom realizes the full extent of Wade's ambitions.

Tom confronts Wade over the dam and land redevelopment while his farm's machinery falters. A new flood threat looms, underscoring the fragility of the Garveys' situation. The tension sharpens as the future of the farm hangs in the balance.

Mae finally confronts Tom about his stubborn fight to hold on to the land, urging him to consider the wellbeing of the family and community. Her plea reveals the weariness behind his determined stance. The couple's disagreement highlights the personal toll of the struggle.

The farming community bands together to build a levee, offering relief against the river and a symbol of shared resilience. Neighbors contribute time, hands, and hope to protect everyone’s livelihoods. The levee represents collective resistance to Wade's schemes.

Wade arrives with bankrupt farmers, trying to dismantle the levee for cash. He offers a bonus to those who sabotage it, turning the crisis into a test of loyalty. The community's solidarity is put to the test.

The levee is breached and floodwaters rush in, threatening the Garveys' home. Tom begins to shovel sandbags, refusing to yield, and his family and onlookers rally to help. His steadfast effort turns into a communal act of defiance against the flood.

Despite the devastation and Wade's attempts, the harvest is eventually successful. Wade acknowledges Tom's determination and, in his own way, concedes that nature will eventually prevail. The community celebrates a hard-won survival.