On the highways and backwoods of the rural south, a coterie of Irish Drifters live in a world distinctly and exclusively their own. Moving from town to town, the travellers make their living through the family business, conning and scamming nearly everyone whose path they cross.

Into this world ventures Pat O’Hara (MARK WAHLBERG) who returns to the travellers to bury his father, once a traveller cast out for marrying an outsider. He is shunned by the head of the clan but cautiously accepted by Bokky (BILL PAXTON) who takes the young man under his wing and teaches him the way of their forefathers. The two take to the road running odd jobs and always staying one step ahead of the law.