Sitting in his Texas jail cell, The date for Jake Samuels' execution for a brutal murder is set. His appeal to the Governor of Texas for a stay has little chance of success, and Jake is scared. Meanwhile, his brother Pete takes a frightening stand against Jake's conviction. He breaks into an elementary school and holds a class of seven-year-olds hostage with a homemade bomb. Pete demands his brother's release and refuses to negotiate. When the president of the United States urges Governor Grassley not to give in, the governor agrees-until he learns who is one of the hostages. Jake is granted a full pardon and released. He joins Pete, and the two escape, but Pete takes along hostages. Jake's dilemma is whether to try to save the hostages and risk being executed, or allow his brutal brother to have his way with them.