What Josiah Saw

The story opens with Thomas 'Tommy' Graham living a solitary life on his family's rustic farm alongside his father, Josiah. With his twin siblings, Eli and Mary, having moved away from home long ago, Tommy's existence is marked by tranquility yet tinged with lingering memories of his mother.

Tommy's quiet life is disrupted when two oil company representatives arrive, intent on purchasing the farm for drilling activities. Their probing questions about the farm's history force the family to confront painful memories, including the tragic death of Mrs. Graham in the garden decades earlier.

As Tommy grapples with his mother's haunting memory, he forms an unexpected bond with Tanner, a local boy previously deemed off-limits. Through this friendship, Tommy begins to expand his world beyond the confines of the family farm, navigating the complexities of his growing emotions.

In a moment of vulnerability, Tommy confides about his visits to the garden, seeking understanding from Josiah. However, the confession is met with a stern rebuke, showcasing the father's strict nature and the emotional distance between them.

Josiah stumbles upon a hidden pornographic magazine under Tommy's bed, leading to a confrontation about Tommy's burgeoning sexuality. This revelation prompts Josiah to cryptically hint that 'God has something that needs to be done,' adding a layer of familial tension.

Eli, bearing the weight of his past as a convicted sex offender, wrestles with his inner demons stemming from a tragic statutory rape conviction. His past looms large over his present, affecting his relationships and choices heavily.

Desperate to clear his criminal record and settle debts, Eli becomes caught in a dangerous scheme orchestrated by Boone. Tasked with stealing Nazi gold from a gathering of gypsies, Eli rallies two reluctant partners to assist him in this risky venture.

During his scheme, Eli meets Gina, a captivating gypsy who offers him comfort and suggests consulting a fortune teller. The fortune teller's unsettling predictions reveal deep-seated truths about Eli's past, suggesting he is fleeing from something profoundly painful.

In a dramatic turn, Eli discovers a missing 9-year-old girl, fundamentally changing his path. Their escape from the threatening gypsies brings a rush of exhilaration and a sense of purpose to Eli in the midst of chaos.

After the successful heist, Eli presents the stolen treasure to Boone, only to be faced with Boone's shocking demise upon inspecting the spoils. The death leaves Eli reeling, forcing him to confront the fragility of his choices.

Meanwhile, Mary grapples with her own struggles regarding motherhood alongside her husband, Ross. During a family meal, her fears surface, leading to nightmarish visions of self-destruction that foreshadow her deep-seated anxieties about parenting.

Eli visits Mary to inform her about the oil company's interest in their family farm. Despite Eli's encouragement to consider the offer, Mary resolutely defends her attachment to the land, signaling her determination to uphold family ties.

The siblings, Mary and Eli, reunite after years apart and return to the family farm, where Tommy awaits. Their gathering is laced with tension as Tommy reveals unsettling news about their past, igniting buried pain within Josiah.

During a charged dinner, the siblings are interrupted by the haunting sound of digging in the garden, where Eli desperately searches for something buried. This moment leads to explosive truths about their childhood traumas and family secrets.

The siblings confront their family's dark history when Eli uncovers a wooden chest containing the remains of Mary’s stillborn child alongside Josiah. The grim discovery fractures Tommy’s psyche, leading to a tragic act of violence that silences both Eli and Mary.