He was in the military and killed a policeman. Russell Gates (David Strahairn) is on death row for that crime. Her name is Pam O'Brien (Sissy Spacek), and she is shocked to learn this. She does not believe he could have done this. Keith is not happy about her writing to him. She becomes obsessed with the case and tries to find every possible way the man could still get out of being killed. Both her marriage and her family are hurt by the trips to the prison.