Academically brilliant Mark was his family's pride and joy, if not the whole small town's, but ultimately triumphantly leaves for MIT. Then his single mother Maylene, who never got over losing their father Willard, has to transfer her attention to gray mouse Ruth. half-wit local 'bad boy' Ruben 'Ruby Doll' becomes Ruth's lover and moves in, but domineering Maylene treats him like unwelcome trash. That changes when the love birds are pregnant, but Maylene soon imposes her standards for raising grandson Justy, leading to a grim climax.