It's the bright summer of 1976, and the whole population of Sunbeam Township is gearing up for their
Bicentennial Fair. The only one not celebrating is local outcast Bess Hawkins. An orphaned teenager,
she's routinely bullied by her wealthy uncle, Jason Trask, and his daughter Loretta. When an Arabic
refugee, Rama Chandra, moves into this sleepy little community, he suspects that Bess is being
beaten by her guardians. Whisking Bess away from the Trask mansion, he hides her out at his
country estate. This leads to a confrontation that teaches everyone in town the true meaning of
freedom.