Michael and most of the other children living in their small community are somewhat neglected. A victim of his parents' physical and emotional abuse, like all children, he has an instinctive need to please, and he tries to do his best to limit the punishment. Because it is the only world he and the other children know, they don't realise the extent to which they are being mistreated. Then one particularly dreadful day, his parents' lack of care leaves Michael and his cousin Julie in mortal danger, only seconds away from death, or perhaps a fate even worse.