On a Black Tar Road between nowhere and somewhere, two misunderstood women find love in between the cracks of hardships.
This movie tells of a young man named Jude Mulvey who is suffering from cystic fibrosis. As a way of coping with the disease, and not wanting to die in a hospital bed, he has taken up the occupation of being a criminal mastermind, stealing from other lawbreakers. Along with his partner, Scott Lee, they rob hangouts and drug dens. At some point, they cross the wrong bad guy, and the adventure begins.
The Talbots, formerly one of the Eastern Shore's first families, have gone to seed: Pap is a drunk, soddenly decaying in his ruined ancestral home, and three of his sons (William, Carol, and Ezra) are lazy, shiftless young men. Mulligan, Pap's second son who supports the entire family by oyster fishing, falls in love with wealthy Anna Lee, but when he first kisses her, she calls him "white trash."
Drusilla Ives, a young Quaker girl living on an isolated island, leaves to become the servant of the spendthrift Duke of Guisenberry in London, who is the Lord of her village. She finds that she is attracted to the bustling city's night life, and when the duke discovers that she is a fine dancer, he helps her turn professional. In short order she becomes known as Diana Valrose, the city's favorite dancer. Unfortunately, her strict father and her Quaker fiancee, John Christison, back on the island find out about her newfound fame and career and strongly disapprove--her father places a curse on her and her boyfriend marries her sister Faith. Complications ensue.