Hank is a guard working for eath Row<注1> in a southern state prison. Hank's son Sonny follows his suit and joins him doing the same job when he grows up. His father Buck, a retired Correction Officer<注2>, lives with them. Buck is a racist who misses the good old days when the "niggers"<注3>were not allowed to mix with the white. Naturally he gets angry when he sees a black family movessintosthe neighborhood. What is worse, Sonny does not seem to mind their skin color and mix well with the black kids. Following Buck's instruction, Hank scares the black kids out of their lawn with a shotgun in his hands, to Sonny's astonishment. As a protest, Sonny leaves home in his car.

　　It is said that in England, a guy to be executed<注4> used to be given a party the night before, which was called "monster's ball."?As Buck learns that a black prisoner Lawrence is going to be executed, he is very happy and puts the newspaper clipping about the eventsintoshis collection. To ensure a smooth execution, the death squad has a rehearsal in which Sonny screws it up<注5> due to his sympathy and nervousness. Hank tells him to be careful in the forthcoming execution. At the same time, Lawrence's wife Leticia and son Tyrell come to prison to visit him for the last time before his death. The woman suffers for 11 years and she is losing her house for failing to pay the mortgage<注6>. The only comfort for Lawrence is the news that Tyrell's drawing, a talent inherited from him, is to be used on the cover of the school magazine. It's a portrait of Lawrence in the cell and it is titled "solitude".?

　　In his cell, Lawrence is "enjoying" his monster's ball. He is given a bumper meal and his request of a pen and some paper for his last drawings is granted. But his plead for a last phone call to his family is rejected by the warden<注7> who does not think it a good idea. To appreciate the company of Sonny and Hank at the last moment of his life, Lawrence draws portraits for the father and the son respectively. He believes that "a portrait captures"<注8> a person far better than a photograph. It truly takes a human being to really see a human being.?Meanwhile, Leticia and Tyrell are waiting for Lawrence's last call while watching TV. But there is no call at all. Failing to control her anger and frustration, Leticia gives Tyrell a good beating accusing him of being over-weighted and eating all the time.

　　When Lawrence is escorted to the execution room, Sonny cannot control his loath and sickness and has to drop out of the squad. Hank is very angry and condemns him for screwing up Lawrence's last walk. Actually he resents Sonny for his weakness and sympathy for "niggers" against the family value. Father and son are immediately separated by their colleagues. However, when Hank goes back home, he is still flamed with anger and cannot help scolding Sonny. Furious Sonny pulls out his gun and points to Hank asking him if he always hates him. Hank says "yes."?Disillusioned, Sonny tells Hank that he always loves Hank while what he has got is only hate. Upon these words, he pulls the trigger and kills himself in front of Hank and Buck. Hank is shocked and becomes silent afterwards.

　　Hank cannot get over the sadness of losing his son and decides to quit the job and buy a gas station. Buck criticizes him for his weakness saying that he fails the old man as his mother did. To keep her house, Leticia is working very hard at a caf?where Hank, now more silent than ever, is an occasional customer. They also see each other on the road since they live in the same neighborhood, but they seldom speak to each other.

　　One raining evening, Leticia finishes her work at the caf?and goes home with Tyrell who has been doing his homework at the caf? Unfortunately, a car hits Tyrell and runs away without stopping. Tyrell is seriously wounded and has lost consciousness. Hysterical<注9> Leticia cries for help at the roadside, but not a single car stops. Hank happens to pass by and notices the scene. After a moment of hesitation, he stops his car and takes them to the nearest hospital. However, the boy fails to come to<注10> and Leticia loses her son. The policeman asks Hank to send Leticia home. Hank asks Leticia for her address, but the sad woman cannot speak a single word. So Hank has to look for it in her bag. He also asks the policeman to throw away his blood stained hat for him.

　　One day, on his way to the gas station, Hank sees the two black kids from the neighborhood, who used to play with Sonny. They say that they are sorry for the death of his son. Hank is moved by their friendship. The other day, Hank finds Leticia walking to work and offers to give her a ride. It turns out that Leticia's old car broke down and has no money to have it repaired. Hank attends the caf?more frequently and often goes back home with Leticia in his car. Smile begins to appear on Hank's face and he likes to talk to people now. One night when he again gives Leticia a lift home, she asks him to go in for a couple of drinks. They talk on and on about Sonny, Lawrence, and Tyre<注11>. Mixed with sadness and happiness, Leticia cannot help touching Hank and asks him to make love to her. They end up in bed madly making love to each other.

　　Hank has Sonny's Jeep repainted11 and presents it to Leticia as a gift. Leticia is grateful. She goes to a store and buys a beautiful hat for Hank using the money she has saved. When she goes to Hank's to surprise him, Leticia finds only Buck at home watching TV. Learning about her purpose of coming here, the old man says that Hank must have done something right to deserve the gift and he is just like the old man who used to have sex with black women in his prime<注12>. Humiliated, Leticia walks out of the house and drives away despite Hank's apology and explanation.

　　To show his determination to break away from racism and express his love for Leticia, Hank sends Buck to an old men's home and changes the name of his gas stationsintos"Leticia"?At the same time, Leticia is thrown out of her house together with her personal belongings because of failing to pay the mortgage. Upon Hank's sincere request, she movessintosHank's. Putting Tyrell's drawingssintosSonny's room, Leticia sees the two portraits done by Lawrence for Hank and Sonny and she is again engrossed in the heart broken memory.

　　What Hank has done touches Leticia and she decides to accept his love. After making love in the evening, Hank offers to go buying her favorite chocolate ice cream. They sit on the steps of the porch, gaze at the starry sky, and dream of their bright future. Tomorrow is another day. -